Islwyn Assembly Member Rhianon Passmore has said the roll-out of Universal Credit will impact negatively on the lives of the most vulnerable.
The Labour AM raised the issue during questions in the Senedd on Tuesday, November 28.
She said: “Members in this Senedd are very well aware that Universal Credit, the single monthly payment that replaces the six current working-age benefits, is being rolled out across Wales.
“Despite the outstanding and proactive work being undertaken in Wales to support, advise and assist those impacted by welfare reform, it is inevitable that universal credit will impact negatively on the lives of the most vulnerable people across our nation, through the operation of a process that seems designed to purposely push people into poverty and debt.
“What representations can the Welsh Government make to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to call on the UK Tory Government to rethink a highly regressive and destructive policy?”
First Minister Carwyn Jones replied: “The roll-out of Universal Credit is a mess. People are left without money —people who need money on a weekly basis.
“People are left in a situation where they cannot afford to buy things. People are left in a situation of uncertainty, and we know that the UK Government’s response to all this is, ‘Who cares?’ pretty much.
“Well, we care on this side of the Chamber. We urge the UK Government to make sure that people who need that money get that money and they stop the cuts they are making to the benefit system, and the cuts they are making to the spending that we as a society have historically made on those who are most vulnerable. We will always stand for those who are most vulnerable.”