Over 2,000 local people receive financial support from Islington Council to cope with the impact of Universal Credit.

Islington Labour has warned for months that the Tory Government’s roll-out of Universal Credit is hitting local people hard, and new figures reveal that, so far –

• Three quarters of council tenants who have been moved to Universal Credit are now in rent arrears
• Average rent arrears for council tenants on Universal Credit have increased by 11% since October 2018 to an average of £1,266
• In total, almost £2m of rent has gone unpaid by council tenants on Universal Credit.

In December 2018, Islington Council – under Islington Labour’s leadership – became one of the first councils in the country to call for Universal Credit to be scrapped. The Council also committed to continue supporting local residents affected by Universal Credit.

The Council is now helping 2,147 households who have been affected by Universal Credit with a one-off payment that averages £134.

Cllr Andy Hull, Executive Member for Finance, Performance & Community Safety, said: 

“Universal Credit has already been universally discredited. I am proud that Islington has been loud and clear in our opposition to this disastorous policy of deliberate destitution.

 

“The roll-out of Universal Credit by the Tory Government in Islington is pushing more and more people to the brink. We are doing all that we can to support people.

“Ultimately, we need the Government to see sense and to scrap Universal Credit.”

It is estimated that almost 10,000 households in Islington will be worse-off under Universal Credit, with the average affected household over £500 per year worse-off.