Leaked letter reveals Michael Gove's concerns over Universal Credit

Published by 24publishing for 24dash.com in Housing

A leaked letter from Michael Gove to Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has revealed he has concerns about the switch to the new Universal Credit system from 2013 and its impact on vulnerable families.

In a letter to Nick Clegg on the 5 September, Mr Gove said he welcomed the steps taken by Government to build a "robust Universal Credit system", while recognising that "some claimants may struggle to manage their finances and pay their rents".

However, the education secretary said his concerns related to vulnerable families with children who "may not possess sufficient skills or resources to naviagte the new system".

His letter said: "I would like to see vulnerable young people, in particular those leaving the care system, considered. If these families or young people fall into rent arrears as a result of not paying their rents on time, they may face eviction, and in the case of households with children, the household would have to be re-housed at further cost to the local authority.”

He said he welcomed demonstration projects if they include the assessment of "payment schemes" for vulnerable families with children and vulnerable young people and if they work to "evaluate the impact of this policy change on these groups".

He added his concerns to the Government's plans to penalise social housing tenants under-occupying their homes by cutting their housing benefit, adding that "it may further compound difficulties faced by vulnerable families and young people in managing their finances and payments".