Vulnerable being caused needless suffering

WARRINGTON’S most vulnerable people are being caused needless suffering by Government policies.
This was the view of borough council leader Cllr Terry O’Neill (pictured) and health and wellbeing lead member Cllr Pat Wright in response to questions at the council’s monthly meeting on payday loans, changes to the carer’s allowance and temporary withdrawal of financial support for some people with complex mental health problems.
On payday loans, Cllr O’Neill welcomed the recent news that the new Financial Conduct Authority is forcing loan company Wonga to write-off £220m of loans to 375,000 borrowers – many of who were charged interest rates of up to 5,853 per cent per year.
However, he told members the government had not done enough to stop the advertising of these loans, especially when one company featured prominently as the main sponsor of a premiership football club.
He warned residents not to be tempted by claims management companies offering to get their money back for an undisclosed fee, and also advised residents not to stop making repayments until this situation is fully clarified.
On the carers allowance Cllr Wright choed concerns that some carers in Warrington could be hit by minimum wage changes which would make them ineligible for their allowance and said: “In order to qualify for carers allowance a carer must be providing care and support for a minimum of 35 hours per week, and therefore at the minimum rate this equates to just £1.75 per hour.”
Cllr Wright also condemned the “impossible situation” some Warrington residents with complex mental health problems were facing when being assessed for employment support allowance.
For some, this could mean being left with no income at all while they waited for the results of a “mandatory reconsideration” period, and this could lead to a deterioration in their already challenging conditions.
Cllr Maureen McLaughlin, the council’s “champion for equalities” said: “The problem with carers allowance has come about because of government failure to co-ordinate its policies.
“One of the conditions for getting carer’s allowance is that you do not earn more than £102 per week. A carer working 16 hours on the minimum wage would now lose that entitlement. Even worse, for some also eligible for tax credits, if they drop their hours they could also lose an important weekly income.
“Government totally failed to notice the impact these changes would have and are not doing enough to put this right.
“In these difficult circumstances, it is no wonder people are turning to food banks as a last resort. Whether it is the outrageous practices of payday loans companies, the inability of government departments to foresee potential problems, or the cruel cutting-off of necessary financial support, some of our most vulnerable residents are facing impossible challenges at the very time when they need our support the most.”