{"id":810239,"date":"2022-09-23T15:02:09","date_gmt":"2022-09-23T15:02:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thecanary.co\/?p=1622525"},"modified":"2022-09-23T15:02:09","modified_gmt":"2022-09-23T15:02:09","slug":"dwp-shambles-as-cost-of-living-payments-delayed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2022\/09\/23\/dwp-shambles-as-cost-of-living-payments-delayed\/","title":{"rendered":"DWP shambles as cost of living payments delayed"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has already screwed up the next round of so-called cost of living payments. This time, it’s chronically ill and disabled people who are affected. But the situation begs the question: how can the DWP mess up something so simple?<\/p>\n

DWP: insulting payments<\/h2>\n

On Tuesday 20 September, the DWP was due to send out \u00a3150 one-off payments<\/a> to around six million people who got certain disability\/health social security entitlements. It’s part of the government cost of living support packages. According to the government’s website:<\/p>\n

The payment will help disabled people with the rising cost of living, acknowledging the higher disability-related costs they often face<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Of course, \u00a3150 is an insult to chronically ill and disabled people. In 2019, they already faced extra costs of \u00a3583 a month<\/a> on average, compared to non-disabled people. Now, that figure would be nearer \u00a3650<\/a> – less than the monthly highest Personal Independence Payment<\/a> (PIP) rate. So, \u00a3150 is hardly something to shout about. But it is still extra money that people wouldn’t otherwise have.<\/p>\n

So, with inflation and interest rates rocketing and the poorest people struggling more than ever, what does the DWP do? Screw up paying the \u00a3150.<\/p>\n

Enter Martin Lewis<\/h2>\n

As Martin Lewis and his Money Saving Expert<\/em><\/a> (MSE<\/em>) website reported, the DWP told it:<\/p>\n

that “operational issues” have led to delays in sending out the money. DWP said the operational problems meant it has so far only been able to send out a limited number of payments<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Lewis’s own, albeit unscientific, research said otherwise – with thousands of people<\/a> telling him on Twitter and Facebook they hadn’t got the payment yet. It was a similar story<\/a> in another Twitter thread. On social media, those affected were furious:<\/p>\n

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Hearing that the slimy toerags at DWP haven't paid most people expecting their \u00a3150 disability Cost of Living payment today.<\/p>\n

But they did say payments to be made "from" 20 September, they love dangling a carrot to those in desperate need.<\/p>\n

— MrBounceBack.com (@Bounce_BackLoan) September 20, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n