Economics
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Universal Credit - A Case Study in Government Failure
19th November 2017
This is deeply sobering six minute video from BBC Newsnight as we visit a food bank in the west end of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Here's the piece I made on Universal Credit for tonight's @BBCNewsnight. https://t.co/bGIURzyOle
— Stuart Denman 🏳️🌈 (@StuartDenman) November 17, 2017
Is the roll-out of universal credit damaging work incentives for some people? Seasonal and short term contractual work will take people in and out of the benefits system but most people do not have any savings to get them through the six weeks before universal benefit payments start to come through.
This is a story of deep and persistent relative poverty and people clinging on in a fissured labour market that frequently comes into conflict with a flawed monolithic welfare system.
Universal Credit - the 250,000 on UC who work face a marginal tax rate of up to 80%. That means they work an extra hour or so, earn an extra £10, and keep just £2 of it. Incentive to work? https://t.co/rE84KCFzPr
— Paul Lewis (@paullewismoney) November 19, 2017
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