2nd Sep 2019
Written by Ellie Thompson, Abby Jitendra and Sumi Rabindrakumar
Report

#5WeeksTooLong

New case study evidence and analysis of support service data illustrate the ongoing impact of the minimum five week wait and the limits of current policies to mitigate its effects.

Food banksMoneySocial security

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Universal Credit is the future of our benefits system, and should be pulling people out of the tide of poverty. Yet this report shows how the move to Universal Credit - specifically the five week wait for the first payment - locks many people into hardship. The government needs to act now to prevent more people turning to food banks for help during the wait.

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