Frank Field MP

Great News that Frank Field MP is taking up our complaint about Universal Credit to Ian Duncan Smith at parliamentary Question Time.  Why are not Company Directors and Charity Directors allowed to apply for Universal Credit?

FROM MY LETTER

Many people become Company Directors to assist charities or organisations that help the community, in order to do ‘good-works’ in society. Frequently, they derive no remuneration. Corporations of course, are governed by ‘Articles of Association’.

Articles 10 Freedom of Expression and 11 Freedom of Association of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) are in place to protect the rights of individuals who want to come together and form ‘associations’, in this case to run organisations such as charities, CIC’s and CIO’s, whose primary motive is not-for-profit.

I believe that the government is discriminating against people who become unemployed but whom want to retain directorships of organisations that do not employ them, where they are not paid a Living Wage – due to the DWP denying them access to Universal Credit.

Someone who needed money to live on, would be forced to resign from organisation that they are keen to support. Those organisations and the people they serve, would also suffer as a result. I believe that this ‘discrimination’ is unlawful, however I felt I would ask for the DWP’s viewpoint before taking further action, such as a test case. I have forwarded a copy of this letter to the DWP Select Committee and to the Prime Minister’s office. The BIG society idea came from the PM himself, and this anomaly seems to contradict the implied purpose of the  initiative. Namely to encourage people to participate in helping communities.

helping communities.