THE rollout of Universal Credit will increase homelessness in this area as more and more claimants rack up rent arrears.

Universal Credit currently applies to new, single benefit claimants with two kids or less. Eventually it will be rolled out to include all claimants.

New claims can take six weeks or more to be processed which means landlords will have a long wait for their rent.

Claimants will have no money for food or rent until their first payment comes through. They may have to take out loans to tide them over, increasing the level of debt for claimants.

The government says you can get an emergency payment to tide people over, but this is only an advance and will be deducted from your future payments.

A further kick in the teeth is that, as I'm sure people have seen in the news, the Universal Credit helpline costs 55p per minute from a mobile.

Add to this the new clampdown by Poole council on rough sleepers and begging, it seems that the poor are on a hiding to nothing.

If you are a Universal Credit claimant with drug, alcohol or gambling addictions and you get a whole month's rent and food money in one big lump sum, you are likely to squander the money, amass rent arrears, get evicted and end up either on the streets or in emergency accommodation at huge, public expense.

CHRIS COBB

Diana Way, Corfe Mullen