Yet More Universal Credit Headaches.

Following the news this week that some people on Universal Credit are being refused the free dental care and prescriptions to which they are entitled Stockton Liberal Democrats are calling on the government to sort out this mess. There is currently no way for pharmacists or dentists to identify those people who are receiving the elements of UC which qualify them for free treatment. As a result there is no option but to charge.

Cllr Julia Cherrett says "Government advice to claimants is to pay and then reclaim the money, but this is out of the question for most eligible people. For some now, the choice is between essential medicine or food and no-one should have to make that choice.

"We call on the Government to sort out these problems before rolling Universal Credit out any further. A system supposed to be simpler to operate and understand for everyone is causing too many problems because the pilot schemes haven't been properly analysed before extending the system further. Ministers need to get a grip before irrevocable damage is done to the health and wellbeing of people struggling to make ends meet."