Earlier this year we publicised the DWP’s attempt to con the public into believing that Universal Credit is not only a good idea, but that it works.
Whilst we know that this is not the case- many of our clients are daily proof of a policy that is broken and should never have been implemented- DWP released an onslaught of adverts (see below for a snippet) debunking the “myths” that surround Universal Credit, in an attempt to detoxify it.
The adverts were not well received. Following 44 complaints from charities and organisations including the Disability Benefits Consortium, this week saw the Advertising Standards Authority ban the Universal Credit adverts, labelling them ‘misleading’ and the claims they make, unsubstantiated.
Metro readers were equally displeased with the DWP and shared their “nightmare” experiences with the government body, click here to read.
GMLC welcomes this conclusion by the ASA as we are acutely aware of the effects Universal Credit has in particular on housing rights, evictions and homelessness.
We fight for a supportive social security system and believe that a decent society should protect and support its most vulnerable members. We have maintained, from our inception, that a system as convoluted and ineffective as Universal Credit should not have been implemented in the first place.
You can read more about the ASA’s decision here and here
