Debate contribution: Universal Credit: Five-week Wait

Debate contribution by Mr Colin Crawford on 11 February 2025.

MLA

Mr Colin Crawford

Party at the time

Ulster Unionist Party

Date

11 February 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Universal Credit: Five-week Wait

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4793442

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Members, today we gather not merely to discuss numbers but to reflect on the lives that are behind those numbers. The alarming statistic of 349,000 individuals living in poverty in our community is not just a figure; it represents our friends, families and neighbours who are grappling with hardships that many of us can scarcely imagine. As Members, it is our collective duty to confront that reality, express our regret and take meaningful action towards alleviating that plight. Social welfare payments have proven to be a vital lifeline for countless households, providing essential support to those who are facing financial difficulties. Those payments help to ensure that, as a society, we do not turn our backs on our most vulnerable. However, we must recognise that the impending move to universal credit poses significant challenges, particularly the distressing five-week wait that over 71,000 households will soon face. That delay in receiving vital support can turn a manageable financial burden into an insurmountable barrier, casting families deeper and further into poverty. For women, who often bear the brunt of financial responsibilities in households, that waiting period can exacerbate existing inequalities and strip away the little financial security that they have. Let us not forget the impact on young people. Young people who are facing unemployment or who are studying while living on their own may find themselves in an alarming situation, struggling to make ends meet during that critical period in their life. Members, we must acknowledge the interconnected issues arising from the five-week wait. It is no coincidence that we see a strong correlation between the delay, increased debt and the rising usage of food banks, which are services that, while noble in their mission, should not be a substitute for a robust social safety net. The very idea that families have to turn to food banks to survive is a national outrage. We must not sit idly by as people suffer. We must act to remedy those injustices. Moreover, I urge us all to consider the dark underbelly of this situation: the potential for exploitation by illegal moneylenders who often prey on people left vulnerable by the gaps in their finances. The Assembly cannot remain passive in the face of such risks. It is our responsibility to ensure that families are protected during their time of need. Let us not forget that behind every figure lies a human story. Together, we have the capacity to create lasting change and foster a society where poverty is not likely but an exception. Together, let us champion the rights and dignity of our family, neighbours and friends. Together, let our actions today reflect our commitment to a more just and equitable future.

449 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:57 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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