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Forum Home  →  Discussion  →  Universal credit administration  →  Thread

Timetable for change

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Leese
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Does anyone have a timetable for the implementation of Universal Credit? I can’t seem to find one anywhere. It has been suggested to me today that it is rolling out into some of the postcodes we deal with in Manchester (I know it’s already in Greater Manchester but it hasn’t gotten to me yet) and I am unable to find the info? I’m wondering if they are still forging ahead with this wonderful new benefit aimed at resolving all issues in the benefit despite problems with the ITY system?

Is here a timetable out there or is it something I’ll find out when the first client turns up asking me to challenge a decision?

Please help if you can.

Thanks in advance.

Jon Blackwell
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Leese - 18 March 2014 04:21 PM

Does anyone have a timetable for the implementation of Universal Credit? I can’t seem to find one anywhere. It has been suggested to me today that it is rolling out into some of the postcodes we deal with in Manchester (I know it’s already in Greater Manchester but it hasn’t gotten to me yet) and I am unable to find the info? I’m wondering if they are still forging ahead with this wonderful new benefit aimed at resolving all issues in the benefit despite problems with the ITY system?

Is here a timetable out there or is it something I’ll find out when the first client turns up asking me to challenge a decision?

Please help if you can.

Thanks in advance.

I’m not aware of any real public timetable for further geographical expansion of new claims (except the highly implausible claim that almost all claimants will be moved to UC by 2017 - you can see what rightsnet contributors think of that here: http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/6022/ ).

All we have is the ministerial statement ( http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm131205/wmstext/131205m0001.htm#13120551000006 ) which actually commits to very little for this year and for 2015.

There are now roughly 4000 UC claimants - the majority in the North West - so it’s entirely possible that you may come across one or two if they move to your area.

The latest stats (to Dec 13) showed zero UC appeals.

Note that a handful of postcodes in the first UC pathfinder area (Ashton-under-Lyne) are actually within the Manchester City boundary ..

M43 6AH/S/T/U
M43 6BR/U/Y
M43 6JP
M43 6LX
M43 6TD/H

.. but I’ve no idea if this is intentional (and they may not even be residential codes).

If you’ve been given specific information about futher expansion let us know.

 

Martyn Broughton
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We been advised that the 10 pathfinder areas will move onto couples by the summer, families by autumn and then a full role out in the North West from April 2015.

Ros
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that’s interesting, wonder whether they will use old or new IT system for april 2015 roll out.

ruthch
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There’s a bit of info in the DWP improvement plan (UC is on page 11), but it’s all a bit vague.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-departmental-improvement-plan-2014

Gareth Morgan
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The DWP plan says:

“... Universal Credit will continue to expand. It is now live in seven areas across the country, growing to 10 by Spring 2014. From there, the live service will expand beyond the existing single claimant group, to progressively start to take new claims from couples in the Summer and families in the Autumn. Once safely tested in the live Universal Credit areas the service will be expanded to more area of the North West.
...
Current plans will see Universal Credit fully available in each part of Great Britain during 2016 having closed down new claims to the legacy benefits it replaces, such as Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support. The majority of the existing legacy benefit claimants will be moved over to Universal Credit during 2016 and 2017. Decisions on the later stages of Universal Credit roll out will also be informed by the development of the enhanced digital IT solution.

shawn mach
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new press release just issued ....

The expansion of the full Universal Credit benefit to the rest of the north west of England will start in June ...

... During the summer the new benefit will also be made available for new claims from couples in a number of jobcentres that already deliver the full Universal Credit, expanding to all the current live sites over time ..

Full details of the first Jobcentres outside the Pathfinder areas to start offering Universal Credit in the north west of England and the timetable for the expansion will be announced shortly.

We are currently in discussion with the following 12 local authorities to be at the forefront of this next stage of expansion:

  - Salford City Council
  - Wirral Borough Council
  - Preston City Council
  - St Helens Borough Council
  - Cheshire East Council
  - Cheshire West and Chester Council
  - Trafford Borough Council
  - Bolton Borough Council
  - Bury Borough Council
  - South Ribble Borough Council
  - Sefton Borough Council
  - Knowsley Borough Council

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/universal-credit-first-year-of-welfare-transformation-and-north-west-next-steps

 

Mike Hughes
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Define “couple”!

Gareth Morgan
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Er, two people without children, disabilities, housing costs, employment, capital or special circumstances, of course.

nevip
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Mike Hughes - 30 April 2014 12:12 PM

Define “couple”!

Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow, a few months ago.

Mike Hughes
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nevip - 30 April 2014 12:59 PM
Mike Hughes - 30 April 2014 12:12 PM

Define “couple”!

Chris Martin and Gwyneth Paltrow, a few months ago.

Hmm, I suspect even “conscious uncoupling” won’t get you out of the lobster pot :)

Paul_Treloar
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Mike Hughes - 30 April 2014 12:12 PM

Define “couple”!

What I tell her indoors I’m going out for, when I nip out for a walk of an evening.

nevip
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Paul_Treloar - 30 April 2014 01:48 PM
Mike Hughes - 30 April 2014 12:12 PM

Define “couple”!

What I tell her indoors I’m going out for, when I nip out for a walk of an evening.

Where do you go, the Winchester club?

Mike Hughes
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Paul_Treloar - 30 April 2014 01:48 PM
Mike Hughes - 30 April 2014 12:12 PM

Define “couple”!

What I tell her indoors I’m going out for, when I nip out for a walk of an evening.

I fear we’re not taking this momentous moment in the history of welfare reform perhaps as seriously as we ought!

Gareth Morgan
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Paul_Treloar - 30 April 2014 01:48 PM
Mike Hughes - 30 April 2014 12:12 PM

Define “couple”!

What I tell her indoors I’m going out for, when I nip out for a walk of an evening.

You tell her you’re going ‘coupling’?

Paul_Treloar
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Gareth Morgan - 30 April 2014 02:03 PM

You tell her you’re going ‘coupling’?

“a couple” is a greater measure than “a quick one” of course. it’s kind of a signifier of timescales (and quantities possibly).

Mike Hughes
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Paul_Treloar - 30 April 2014 02:06 PM
Gareth Morgan - 30 April 2014 02:03 PM

You tell her you’re going ‘coupling’?

“a couple” is a greater measure than “a quick one” of course. it’s kind of a signifier of timescales (and quantities possibly).

Ah, so they didn’t mean “couples”. They meant “a couple of others”.

Peter Turville
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Mike Hughes - 30 April 2014 02:19 PM
Paul_Treloar - 30 April 2014 02:06 PM
Gareth Morgan - 30 April 2014 02:03 PM

You tell her you’re going ‘coupling’?

“a couple” is a greater measure than “a quick one” of course. it’s kind of a signifier of timescales (and quantities possibly).

Ah, so they didn’t mean “couples”. They meant “a couple of others”.

Thats the actual number of additional real claimants likely to be involved in the “roll out” (as in a “roll in the hay” rather than “a quick one”?).

Anyway you lot ‘oop norf’ had bettter get back to your desks so you can tell us lot ‘dayn sowth’ how wonderful UC is when you’ve been “rolled over”!

1964
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LOL!!

I do love you lot. I’ve just spluttered coffee all over my laptop.

Peter Turville
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1964 - 01 May 2014 08:08 AM

LOL!!

I do love you lot. I’ve just spluttered coffee all over my laptop.

Laptop? Luxury, we have to work 28 hrs a day wiv ‘ammer and chisel carving our casenotes on Cotswold stone tablets, drinking water with cupped hands from t’Isis etc etc!

Mike Hughes
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Peter Turville - 01 May 2014 11:21 AM
1964 - 01 May 2014 08:08 AM

LOL!!

I do love you lot. I’ve just spluttered coffee all over my laptop.

Laptop? Luxury, we have to work 28 hrs a day wiv ‘ammer and chisel carving our casenotes on Cotswold stone tablets, drinking water with cupped hands from t’Isis etc etc!

I think we can be fairly confident you just failed to meet your Claimant Commitment right there.

Peter Turville
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[/quote]

I think we can be fairly confident you just failed to meet your Claimant Commitment right there. [/quote]

Its a well known fact that many advice workers have a problem with commitment!

nevip
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“Its a well known fact that many advice workers have a problem with commitment”!

I’ve never even seen the film.

Mike Hughes
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nevip - 01 May 2014 12:00 PM

“Its a well known fact that many advice workers have a problem with commitment”!

I’ve never even seen the film.

I believe it features some migrants who don’t want a real job and instead indulge in anti-social behaviour. Something like that :)

 

nevip
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Was that nice man Nigel Farage in it?

Dan_Manville
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Peter Turville - 01 May 2014 11:21 AM
1964 - 01 May 2014 08:08 AM

LOL!!

I do love you lot. I’ve just spluttered coffee all over my laptop.

Laptop? Luxury, we have to work 28 hrs a day wiv ‘ammer and chisel carving our casenotes on Cotswold stone tablets, drinking water with cupped hands from t’Isis etc etc!

Tablets by crikey! We’re still etching our notes onto XP desks with our fingernails. You don’t know you’ve lived.

 

Mike Hughes
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nevip - 01 May 2014 12:04 PM

Was that nice man Nigel Farage in it?

Was he the bloke who sang “Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa”. I believe he opens his set with “Love Thy Neighbour”!

Mike Hughes
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Gareth Morgan - 30 April 2014 12:21 PM

Er, two people without children, disabilities, housing costs, employment, capital or special circumstances, of course.

Have just realised this means “pensioners” doesn’t it :)

So, couples = no-one. Not even “a couple”.

1964
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Mike Hughes - 01 May 2014 12:07 PM
nevip - 01 May 2014 12:04 PM

Was that nice man Nigel Farage in it?

Was he the bloke who sang “Fa fa fa fa fa fa fa fa”. I believe he opens his set with “Love Thy Neighbour”!

Stop it! I’ve just done the same with me cuppa-soup!

Peter Turville
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Note that the latest UC transitional regs - see news story - includes power that allow DWP to stop taking on new claims for UC (even in the existing pilot areas) with effect from 16 June.

Is that the same June in which ‘further expansion of UC is due to start in other parts of the NW’? see #6 above

Mike Hughes
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Peter Turville - 15 May 2014 02:25 PM

Note that the latest UC transitional regs - see news story - includes power that allow DWP to stop taking on new claims for UC (even in the existing pilot areas) with effect from 16 June.

Is that the same June in which ‘further expansion of UC is due to start in other parts of the NW’? see #6 above

Maybe they’ve privatised it and someone else will be taking on the claims.