Looks like the full UC rollout in North Kensington goes back nearly a year. Just got this gov.uk email alert:
“10:02am, 27 September 2017. The date for roll-out of Universal Credit full service in postcode areas administered by North Kensington Jobcentre has changed from 4 October 2017 to 26 September 2018. These postcodes are: W8, W10 5, W10 6, W10 9 and W11.”
Rollout in North Kensington was halted after the Grenfell fire.
These rollouts are all over the place. Complete shambles and they know it. I have some upcoming posts with examples.
Thanks for this, Kate, that I saw reference to in my inbox immediately I’d uploaded Universal Credit’s built-in misery for claimants should be stopped, not just paused. (Note that my actual link address for that blog post focuses on Direct Line Landlord Insurance rather than the roll-out timetable.)
I’ve since discovered Universal Credit (UC) timetable – Universal Credit (UC) roll-out 2018 — Find out more about the Universal Credit timetable.
I like how they list the jobcentre areas where jobcentres are closing.
Do you mean, for example, the fact that Kilburn Jcp is apparently scheduled for closure in February 2018 while ‘full implementation’ of Universal Credit there is set for September of that year by way of transition from being a ‘live-service area’ to a ‘full digital service area’?
Anyhow, since sending you the Universal Credit (UC) timetable – Universal Credit (UC) roll-out 2018 —
Find out more about the Universal Credit timetable and going back to it in response to your comment, I’ve noticed that whereas yesterday’s sighting had the ‘updated May 2017’ endline, it now has September 2017 as update date.
Grenfell has provided the Tories with an excuse to postpone their shambolic welfare policy in those areas without losing face (or so they probably think), but what about the rest of us? Universal Credit needs scrapping altogether, and it’s time someone bloody well said so, but they have way too much invested in it both financialy & Politicaly to admit failure, it would represent a massive climb down for the Government, unless they find a way of blaming it all on IDS & Osborne. Either way, someone needs to say something & force them to abandon their doomed system.
Cheers both. Will circulate the KUWG post!
I find myself wondering what happens if Grenfell residents are placed in boroughs that are full universal credit – Croydon is a favourite of councils, but I think Hammersmith might be full rollout? – UC has certainly been there a while as we used to leaflet there Dude as you know. People stuck between boroughs where there is rollout in one area but not another are having a difficult time of it.
About the rehousing of former-Grenfell residents, around the six-minute mark of Naomi Klein’s speech to Labour Party conference, she says that it’s scandalous that only a handful of Grenfell residents have so far been rehoused.
I believe that her analysis is far too simplistic. I believe Grenfell survivors need time to heal before committing themselves to any new housing commitment. Besides, the last time they accepted a housing offer, what did it lead to?
If they can do it for one area then why not just scrap it for everyone? I know they are putting it back but I bet those affected by the fire will lose benefits because they have money in the bank when it comes to the crubch they will be expected to use the money to pay rent and council tax with the council giving with one hand and taking with the other hand.
Far too much has been invested in Universal Credit for it to be stopped altogether.
That is about as likely as student grants being reinstated, or the railways being nationalised.
But at least the political fallout from the rent arrears scandal is forcing a closer look at the waiting times for Universal Credit, and that might be changed.
And maybe the unbelievably nasty sanction system might be made less strict.
In the end though,Universal Credit isn’t really about making work pay, it’s about making people work.
John Greyfield writes: “Far too much has been invested in Universal Credit for it to be stopped altogether.”
I am reminded of the arguments for Britain’s continued involvement in the international armaments trade, etc.
Diversifying slightly, I note that in his bid to make huge corporation tax cuts, allegedly to create more jobs, in the USA Donald Trump talks of tax being a “huge burden.” I would argue that ‘welfare reforms’ such as Universal Credit are the real parasitic agents. They sap humanity of its life blood.
“it’s about making people work”
Yes but what work are people going to do? We are in the process of transitioning into a post-industrial society, the Industrial Revolution was over a long time ago, traditional jobs & industries have disappeared, much manufacturing has gone to the far east, jobs continue to be lost to technology, meanwhile the population continues to grow. There are not enough jobs for everyone, and full employment never was possible. Add to that many of the longterm unemployed (such as myself) are unemployable for a variety of reasons; lack of skills/experience/qualifications, requirements such asown transport, driving licence, flt licence, dbs clearance, etc. or just age and health issues. Most jobs I see are up to fifteen to twenty miles away, many with early starts or awkward shifts, I have no transport, on top of that it often says “fast paced environment”.(even though theyre only paying min. wage!) & they don’t want people in their fifties with health probs. they want young people who can work faster. Even the agencies don’t want you if you answer yes to any of the health questions, even though the doctors say my health issues won’t prevent. me from working. I’m not the only one, I know others in the same boat, one guy I know has a heart condition & takens meds for life (four tablets per day) but is classed as fit for work, I am on meds for life too for stomach problems. Other types of work like Admin. often require at least one years experience plustyping skills etc. It’s not that easy getting work, employers can take their pick & aremore likely to choose people with full skill set, own transport, youthful energy & physical strength/stamina, clean bill of health, good references & no criminal convictions. Many of us are completely unemployable and there is a national shortage of unskilled work. The situation is hopeless. For people such as me Universal Credit represents the inevitable path to Sanctions & Hardship.
Who cares about the Grenfeld ex residents???
Not I.
They all got a fat payment, which they could use to rent private, skill retrain, or ‘go forth’ back to their countries of origin and enrich those places with the money and spread the wonderful British civilisation they have learnt here.
Half were illegal sub-tenants anyway, and dangerously overcrowded, which no doubt contributed to problems on congested fire escape stairways, maybe even deaths.
Back to the UC rollout, surely by delaying the full rollout to that area, the government are admitting it’s a worse system If it is truly a better system then they would have speeded up the implementation to benefit that area.
It sounds like they are delaying the punishment.
The fact is, the painfully slow UC roll out is what is allowing it to survive, as they can creep it’s nastiness onto the country a few people at a time, until it seems normal and everyone is trapped.
The speeded up rollout is great news and should NOT be objected to, as this will herald it’s faster downfall – when the computers start breaking and people tempers get frayed with the spiteful conditionality, hoop jumping, stress and sanctions.
50 jobcentres a month!
Hooray !!
Things have to get worse before they get will get better.
I’m on UC, I get paid monthly – so 9 payments this year
Three times I received no payment..which I then had to stressfully chase up
A 33% failure rate !
It seems to me that there are different kinds of ‘burnout’, and they tend often to lead to the lack of compassion for others that you display here, Eddie Booth.
I doubt that you will have been hit by the shock of close neighbours dying in one night as Grenfell residents did, or the attendant survivor-guilt experience.
For further reading on this, I would suggest that you examine the blogsite of Grenfell Action Group that long preceeds the inferno the proverbial shit hitting the fan.
But yes, there may well be an element of ‘divide and rule’ in the way that Grenfell area claimants have been treated, compared to the rest of Universal Credit fodder. Would it not be better for you to channel your rage constructively at those who make the rules, than show contempt for Grenfell survivors? It could be very upsetting for those who make the rules to realise that the opposition against their scheming is united rather than divided; make THEM squirm and think/feel again for their fellow human beings!
PS: Grenfell Action Group blog.
You are being a bit harsh there Eddie to say the least. Despite the ethnic origin of those Grenfell survivors they are human beings who experienced a great trauma that will probably affect them for the rest of their lives, many lost everything they own, not only that but lost family, friends & neighbours too in an accident that should never have happened. As for U.C. it will inevitably fail, but only after it has caused immense hardship & suffering for millions of people. The Tories are incompetent and uncaring and completely out of touch. I’m dreading going on to U.C. as it will be disastrous to have no money for weeks on end & to get in rent arrears, plus budgeting for a fortnight is hard enough on the pittance of JSA they pay us but to budget for a month is impossible.
In reply to Eddie Booth, if that is your name.
Only a fool would make such remarks about the tragedy of Grenfell. One without a shred of compassion for the suffering of other people.
And it takes a true idiot to suggest that the Universal Credit roll-out be speeded-up without regard to the misery that this will cause.