To ask how this is acceptable in the UK today?

[Bibesia]

www.independent.co.uk/voices/universal-credit-dwp-worker-case-manager-benefits-system-government-food-banks-a7998196.html

Quote:

"Full-time case managers on average handle in the region of 300 claims each. We recently started a new way of working whereby tasks are prioritised in a “trigger” approach, meaning we often only have time to look at the highest risk cases. ...

Case managers like me are well-trained to deal with any claimants threatening suicide, either by phone or by journal message, simply because it’s such a frequent occurrence (and recurrence). It is often that we have to tell claimants the state cannot support them further at all – even if they have weeks till their next payment and have young children to feed.

Being a case manager means that turning away those in abject poverty is a part of the job. Those who have worked in universal credit since the early days have become hardened, having dealt with thousands of vulnerable people. It’s very difficult to tell claimants, “I’m sorry but we can’t give you any more”, even if we know that children will suffer in hunger for weeks. But we have no choice."

"I, Daniel Blake" was never the fiction that the likes of Cameron liked to claim it was. Are we supposed to be civilised or not?

Can I suggest that everyone raises this with their MPs? You can find out how to contact them here

The introduction and management of UC has been almost criminally negligent. Not a criticism of you or your colleagues OP but DWP senior management and policy makers have consistently failed to listen when more knowledgable people than them have been telling them what won't work.

And now all those warnings are coming to fruition and those of us outside the DWP who work with claimants sit at our desks and say we told you so on a regular basis.

That's not my article!

What horrifies me is that this is a system which leaves children in serious deprivation, and they are planning yet further cuts that will only make matters worse. And before anyone asks, yes, I am perfectly willing for my taxes to go up if that is what is required to stop this.

And before anyone asks, yes, I am perfectly willing for my taxes to go up if that is what is required to stop this.

But overall (although I am willing to be proved wrong) no one really cares what you (or I) thinks. Well, not those that can actually do something.

Ah sorry OP. I thought you were saying you were a case manager.

I agree that unfortunately very few people care, which is why I suggested that MPs be alerted to this. If they get pestered enough at least some may discover that they do care, if only to keep their constituents happy.