Dear Editor,

In July of this year, new evidence on the increasing financial insecurity amongst recipients of Universal Credit was produced by Citizens Advice. 800 people in Universal Credit pilot areas who had sought help through the scheme were surveyed by the charity.

With 39% of those questioned reporting that they had found themselves waiting over six weeks for their first payment, 57% of those who had to wait said they were forced to resort to borrowing money during that time to survive.

Additionally (not helped by the complex online application system) nearly a third of those surveyed were also found to have made more than 10 calls to the 55p per mobile minute helpline during the application process, with common waiting times of over 30 minutes. These are people who in many cases are struggling to find 55p a day towards food for their children.

The Universal Credit roll out is well underway, whilst simultaneously in pilot areas we are seeing a rise in food banks, rent arrears, evictions, uptake of loans and credit, and an increase in mental health issues. Anyone with a healthy dose of pragmatism can see that this isn’t working, not for those that’s it’s supposed to help.

Yes, this week it was announced that the absurd phone charges will be dropped within a month, but this will not neutralise the inequitable consequences faced by claimants.

This situation may be incomprehensible to those fortunate enough to be removed from the very real obstacles facing those in less advantaged circumstances. But it’s time for everyone to listen to these pleas of help with an open mind.

The incongruity of Teresa May’s Sunday Church visits with her unchristian policies reveal a hypocrite who doesn’t really care at all about the misery she is inflicting on those in poverty.

Since 2010, homelessness, rough sleeping and the use of food banks has trebled. It is glaringly obvious that with the continued introduction of Universal Credit these numbers will keep rising. In Newcastle for example, council housing tenants on the Universal Credit pilot scheme have already accumulated 1.2 million in rent arrears.

At least 30 Conservative MPs have voted against it, including ex Prime Minister John Major who has called it cruel and unfair. A string of charities in these areas have also signed joint letters to ministers.

Jesse Norman, I am hopeful that as our local MP you will see sense and join the other Conservative MPs calling for Universal Credit to be scrapped, before it ruins the lives of too many others.

Mrs Sally McCarthy

Ross-on-Wye

Editors note: MP Jesse Norman has decided that he would prefer to keep his Ross Gazette Column separate from questions. However, he said he is very happy to reply in the letters section to comments or questions that are raised. Therefore we hope to have the answer to this question next week.