To What Extent Could Universal Credit Successfully Tackle Poverty?

Welfare benefits are provided by the Government to help those who are unemployed or receive a low income. These benefits are there to provide families or individuals with enough money to survive. Unfortunately sometimes surviving just is not enough. Due to lack of work, idleness, disabilities and a number of other reasons people turn to benefits. A minority of these people are classed as or class themselves as living in poverty. Poverty comes in a range of forms. It has been suggested that there are two main types of poverty relative, people who are considered 'poor' compared to those around them, however can afford the basics. Where as those in absolute poverty do not have enough money to survive. People who live in poor conditions often claim benefits resulting in them becoming trapped and reliant on the benefit system.

People who live in poverty are eligible to claim benefits although not everyone claims benefits live in poverty, some people falsely apply. The idea is that those on benefits can survive on the things they 'need' such as food, water, clothes and shelter as oppose to the things they 'want' or essentially wish for such as TVs, family holidays and the internet. The line between want and need has become somewhat distorted, this may well be down to the ranges of benefits an individual can claim. Maslow (1945) identified the basic needs of a person must be met, he created a hierarchy of needs such as the need for air, food, water and sleep moving up the scale to more complex needs. These needs can be met through a stable income.

Benefits also help those who are socially excluded and vulnerable to poverty, those who were blocked out of society due to lack of resources and financial differences creating social barrier...

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...suffer as working mothers will have to work longer hours to make work pay. This will put strain on their families and push them into poverty. The new system will also push those single parents and most people experiencing poverty in deeper.

In conclusion everyone at some point in their lives may be at rick of and vulnerable to poverty. Although the Government has introduced Universal Credit people are still trapped in poverty and reliant on benefits. Vulnerable groups turn to benefits for answers but rarely find them. Life on benefits has become more acceptable and in fact a way of life. This attitude will be pasted down through generations and seen as 'normal' to rely on the state. As each stage of the Universal credit is introduced it will give a clearer picture as to whether this will tackle poverty or push people further into poverty trapping them on benefits.