‘Rolling out Universal Credit’ – the latest report by the National Audit Office – finds real concerns https://www.nao.org.uk/report/rolling-out-universal-credit/
The concerns include: that 38% of claimants can’t deal with identification on line; 20% get late payment an average of 4 weeks late; the pressure on local agencies including a greater demand for advisory and advocacy services; rent arrears have risen; an increase in the use of foodbanks in at least some areas where Universal Credit full service has been introduced, and overall finds its projections on savings and benefits unproven…
The Government appear to be sticking their fingers in their ears and it’s hard to see any responsiveness to issues while if the early roll-outs have piloted anything… what has the learning been?
Esther Mcvey, the Minister, gives scant attention to the report in her statement see https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2018-06-21/debates/E234119F-DC84-4CB4-A814-69CC6A1441E8/UniversalCreditAndWelfareChanges
‘Frank Field, the chair of the Commons work and pensions committee, said: “Rather than that banal offering, which did nothing for our poorest constituents, a more realistic statement from the secretary of state would have acknowledged that universal credit is helping to transform the welfare state from one which protects people from poverty, to one that drives them into destitution.”‘ see fuller report https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/jun/21/government-must-wake-up-to-universal-credit-flaws
