South Yorkshire claimants 'resorting to foodbanks' waiting for Universal Credit
A charity says people claiming a new benefit in South Yorkshire are resorting to foodbanks - while they wait WEEKS for a payment
It's claimed people in South Yorkshire are needing foodbanks to survive - after huge delays in getting a new benefit.
Some claimants here have had to wait six weeks for their Universal Credit payment, which combines a number of things, including housing benefit and tax credits.
The new system's being phased in across the UK and the government's announced this week that will go ahead as planned, despite calls for a pause to improve it.
Frances Potter's from Sheffield Citizens Advice - she says people are really struggling with the wait for a payment:
"People are getting them after a wait of six weeks with no income and that's where people fall into debt straight away. They'll have rent to pay and they'l have electricity to pay in that time.
"People have had to go to foodbanks just to put food on the table. It's not the case that everybody's got family that can help to feed them. There's the issue of people borrowing more on credit cards that we know are already really stretched or even going to loan sharks."
The system's already fully in place in parts of South Yorkshire - but should be completely rolled out by July next year.
Frances says, if the system isn't fixed, that'll lead to a lot of problems:
"There's going to be a big run on all the available foodbanks and the doctors will see people coming in with extreme stress and hardship.
"There's going to be high levels of rent arrears which impacts on the social landlords and it also means people are under the stress of being threatened they'll lose their home which is a terrible thing to see."
The government say anyone wanting an advance payment of the benefit can get one within five working days.
Work and Pensions Secretary David insists he's making changes to help:
"As we move forward to the end of the year, many more interim payments are being made to stabilise it, and also you'll find the housing stuff is going to be sorted out, it has been sorted out.
"Universal Credit is delivering on the ground, vastly improving the lives of those who are on it, and that roll-out is set to be steady and careful."