A SCOTTISH charity and East Lothian MP George Kerevan are calling for an overhaul of how Universal Credit works for disabled people.
Hundreds of vulnerable people are forced to go online to claim the new benefit, being trialled in East Lothian, but charity Fair (Family Advice and Information Resource) and Kerevan insist more needs to be done to support those with disabilities.
The MP and Robert Davie, senior advice worker at Fair, which helps people with learning disabilities and their carers in the Lothian area, said the number of vulnerable people looking for help had soared since the introduction of Universal Credit in March.
One case they are investigating involves a 40-year-old man with learning disabilities who has been struggling to survive since he was refused Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
After an appeal, the decision to refuse ESA was overturned but he had to apply for his benefits under the new Universal Credit system.
Davie has written to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) saying they “failed” the man, who was forced to get into debt to survive after he went 10 weeks without benefits.
He wrote: “I believe he has been failed by DWP and welfare reform. He attended an ESA work capability assessment and received zero points, and was refused ESA from March 16.
"Due to his learning difficulties, inability to understand the decision and arrange support, he was unable to claim your alternative benefit Universal Credit until April 20.
“Despite not having computer skills, having learning difficulties and being a vulnerable person receiving 14 hours per week support financed by East Lothian Council, no arrangement has been made to have his rent paid directly to East Lothian Council.
“The amount of Universal Credit awarded is dramatically less than he would have received if still on ESA and receiving Housing Benefit.
“His award does not include any limited capability for work component. To compensate for the reduction in benefit, he will need to apply for a discretionary housing payment and may need additional support from scant local authority resource.”
Davie said it took him four weeks to get his care worker to help him fill out a form for Universal Credit and then he had to wait five weeks for his first payment.
He added: “The four weeks and your waiting time resulted in him requesting an advance of Universal Credit and a high-interest £300 loan from Provident. He is now in debt.”
Kerevan got involved after Davie wrote to him asking him to intervene and explained how problems with Universal Credit was causing the man stress and anxiety.
He said: “We are getting a lot of these cases now. People who are going through the Personal Independence Payment assessments, and being shunted off into Universal Credit and losing benefit.
“It is really distressing. We are just going through the procedure at the moment with this man. We are pressing the various agencies.
“One of the problems is that when they lose their disability allowance and they have to struggle through to get back on to benefits through Universal Credit, there is the gap when they don’t get paid anything.
“Quite often they are incapable of surviving, not just without the money but not having the capacity mentally and physically to help themselves. It is just dreadful.”
Davie said there were a number of similar cares where those with learning disabilities were struggling with the new system.
He said: “I would be calling for recognition that vulnerable people need more support at the initial stage instead of them having to rely on getting to a computer.”
A DWP spokesman said: “Universal Credit is revolutionising welfare and the vast majority of claims are made online.
“For anyone who needs extra help, we have a dedicated phone line and our work coaches are on hand to give one-on-one support.
“Our jobcentres also have computers and internet access to help people get online.”
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