Furious Britons have hit out at the Universal Credit system in its current form, claiming pensioners are losing out in the long run.
GB News’s West Midlands reporter Jack Carson took to the streets of Birmingham to gauge the public reaction to the latest unemployment data.
Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures show the rate of unemployment at 4.2 per cent in the three months to November, slightly lower than predicted by economists at Reuters.
Speaking to Carson, 80-year-old Les Hancock said he felt that as a pensioner, he was being penalised for saving with his tax going towards things like Universal Credit.
Jack Carson spoke to Birmingham residents about the latest unemployment data
GB NEWS
“I feel as though we’re being penalised if you’re going to save the fuel”, he said.
“They’re getting the credits, we don’t get anything. We’re penalised for saving.
“We haven’t got a lot of money, but you don’t get any help with council tax and things like that.
69-year-old Joyce Hancock waded in on the discussion by concurring with the sentiment, saying: “You have to use your savings if you want that little bit extra.”
It comes amid concerns over the number of people in the country relying on Universal Credit.
Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt have vowed to end the scourge, with the Chancellor outlining measures in last year’s autumn statement.
Furious Britons feel the Universal Credit scheme is affecting pensions
GettyAnother Birmingham resident, Mark Sutton, 61, said there are “a lot of loafers” in Britain.
36-year-old Aretha Munroe sympathised with people on Universal Credit, saying many graduates “aren’t being given a chance”, making the job market a “difficult” one.
“A lot of employers need to give people a chance”, she said.
Asked about people who “don’t want” to work, she questioned the Government’s efforts to “get people into work”.
She went on to suggest the Government should assist with “getting people into the job centre” and workplaces should facilitate more “trials” for prospective hires.
Rishi Sunak last year vowed to “end the national scandal” of millions being out of work.
Significant changes were made to benefits with a crackdown on “coasters”.
Hunt warned that those who “refuse” to take jobs would lose free prescriptions as a result in a move deemed necessary to stop “anyone choosing to coast on the hard work of taxpayers”.