THOUSANDS of families in the south west claiming the government’s new all-in-one benefit, Universal Credit, are being plunged into "misery and hardship", it is claimed.

The union Unite is calling on the government to stop the roll-out of Universal Credit.

It says as well as the long waits for the benefit there are other problems such as the complex on-line-only application process and the housing benefit element not being paid direct to landlords causing rent arrears and in some cases eviction.

The level of benefit sanctions for people claiming Universal Credit is also much higher due to the complexity of the system and the fact that many people claiming this on-line benefit don’t have access to the internet at home and therefore get their benefits stopped because they miss job centre appointments they don’t know about.

Left behind, a report into the impact of Universal Credit by The Tussle Trust, has found that 92 per cent of people claiming the all-in one benefit said that it doesn’t cover their full cost of living, and 57 per cent have experienced mental or physical health problems.

Brett Sparkes, Unite Community coordinator for the South West said: “Despite knowing that Universal Credit causes serious problems for those claiming it the government is ploughing ahead regardless while claimants are descending into debt, relying on food banks and getting into rent arrears and in many cases are being evicted from their homes.

“In order to claim Universal Credit claimants need an internet connection which many simply can’t afford.

“Unite is demanding a cut in the long waits to receive money, for people to be able to apply in job centres, not just online, better help for people when the system fails, landlords to be paid directly to avoid people getting into rent arrears and losing their homes, an end to benefit sanctions for people in and out of work.”

In the south west there are currently 35,628 households receiving Universal Credit but this figure is expected to reach 437,490 by March 2022.