The rollout of the troubled Universal Credit welfare reform is nearing completion in Lincolnshire, but news of further country-wide delays may spell problems.
It’s proved a headache for the government since the new system, which merges six benefits into one payment, was first introduced in 2013.
It’s now been introduced to around 10% of the country, but criticism has centred around the length of time is takes for claimants to receive the first payment (35 days) – leaving some struggling to make ends meet in the meantime.
In some areas, MPs have claimed their constituents have been driven to sell their possessions, rely on food banks and even turned to sex work.
Documents leaked to the BBC this week were said to reveal plans to spend hundreds of millions of pounds to prevent claimants suffering hardship.
By December 2018, Universal Credit will be available in all job centres for new benefits claimants. The switchover for existing claimants will continue, slowly.
It’s not expected to be fully operational until December 2023 despite earlier completion predictions of April 2017.
MPs voted 299 – 279 on Wednesday against a Labour motion to force ministers to show the impact of Universal Credit.
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Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) has confirmed plans to jet-wash blocked gullies in Leadenham following persistent flooding, which has left residents and businesses in constant fear of property damage during heavy rainfall.
The council intends to jet the A607 outside Leadenham Post Office as an urgent measure to mitigate ongoing flood risks, with a full clean scheduled for January. The announcement comes after a plea from Leadenham Parish Councillor Martyn Everett, who highlighted significant flooding along Sleaford Road.
A senior lecturer recently celebrated the news that East Midlands Railway will increase its train capacity on what he felt was an “overcrowded” service between Lincoln and Leicester.
Amir Badiee lives in Loughborough and for the past seven years has been commuting to his job at the University of Lincoln, but over the last two years he believes the train service has got worse. When he complained back in March he said he didn’t receive any response, but he believes his recent concerns aired in The Lincolnite helped to prompt a positive outcome.
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