Protesters took to the streets of Sheppey and Sittingbourne today to launch an attack on Universal Credit.

Spokesman Helen Martins, who was at Sheerness clock tower, said: "The government is spending £200,000 on advertising saying Universal Credit is a great new benefit which helps people back into work. But the reality could not be more starkly different.

"This so-called 'benefit' merges six existing benefits into one. Its impact has been alarming and harsh, causing misery and suffering."

The protest was part of a national day of action by the Unite Community, a section within the Unite union, for members without jobs.

It tackled the twin themes of Stop Universal Credit and End Holiday Hunger.

Another protest led by Kay Murphy was staged at the entrance to the Forum shopping centre in Sittingbourne.

Helen said: "Damage caused by Universal Credit includes children going without food during holidays because they don't have school dinners, families being forced into debt and poverty, getting into rent arrears, being evicted and needing to rely on food banks to survive.

"It also leads to bad mental and physical wellbeing and an increased risk of domestic abuse."

She added: "Findings from recent research make grim reading. In some parts of Sheppey child poverty, after housing costs, affects almost 50% of children.

"Housing has been opened up by the government to market forces and people on benefits have no control over it.

"Research also shows that children growing up in poverty suffer delayed physical and intellectual development, have an increased risk of mental health problems, are at risk of bullying and have low self-esteem."

Unite Community is campaigning for Universal Credit to be scrapped "before more damage is done."

It says the government should abandon long waits for claimants to receive money; allow people to apply for Universal Credit in a job centre, not just online; provide people with better help when the system fails them; pay landlords directly to stop people getting into rent arrears and losing their homes and end benefit sanctions for all claimants.

Universal Credit is a means-tested benefits system which merges income support, Jobseeker’s allowance, employment and support allowance, housing benefit, child tax credit and working tax credit.

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