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Citizens Advice calls for universal credit rollout to be paused
New report from CitA -
The rollout of Universal Credit should be paused until significant problems with it are fixed, says Citizens Advice.
In a major new report - Delivering on Universal Credit - the charity reveals that the requirement to wait for six weeks to receive any payment means people face serious financial insecurity, with many being forced into debt.
The research also identifies a wide range of administrative challenges, including problems with the online system and long waits to get help over the phone, which can make the initial six week wait even longer.
DWP response:
“As Citizens Advice makes clear, this report is based on evidence from a self-selecting group of people and is not representative of the half a million people claiming universal credit.
“The best way to help people pay their rent and improve their lives is to help them into work, and under universal credit people are moving into work faster and staying in work longer than under the old system.’ [this claim is based on dodgy stats from some time ago]
Or -
‘LAAAA LAAAA LAAAA WE’RE NOT LISTENNNINNNNNNGGGG!!!’
DWP response:
“As Citizens Advice makes clear, this report is based on evidence from a self-selecting group of people and is not representative of the half a million people claiming universal credit.
This survey was directed at our clients who are “claiming” UC, not just those who are “having problems with” UC. So, it could be someone who just wants help claiming a new benefit, or who came in for advice on unfair dismissal, etc. But like almost every survey, it will be self-selecting to a degree. I’d be interested to see if DWP, or anyone else, has done a more rigorous survey of UC claimants.
I note they also claim high levels of satisfaction with UC . I suspect CAB’s methodology will hold up and DWP’s will not.
Next, DWP will say that all criticisms are ‘out of date’ and in any case that brilliantly successful action has been taken to correct any problems, of which there were of course none in the first place.
It’s the logic of DWP’s Happy Land: if we say something is good then it’s good, and you must not mention bad things, they only upset people!!!
DWP response:
“As Citizens Advice makes clear, this report is based on evidence from a self-selecting group of people and is not representative of the half a million people claiming universal credit.
“The best way to help people pay their rent and improve their lives is to help them into work, and under universal credit people are moving into work faster and staying in work longer than under the old system.’
Andrew, I thought you’d made up a comedy quote, but now I see it’s a real one ....
http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/universal-credit-failing-people-charity-10754447
“The vast majority of claimants have told us they are satisfied with UC.”
I bet they were so happy that they even sent Mr Couling a thank you card…..
He’s only accepting online thank-yous from now on…..
DWP rejects charity’s Universal Credit pause calls - http://central-government.governmentcomputing.com/news/dwp-rejects-charity-universal-credit-pause-calls-over-id-fears-5866311
From the PCS union -
We believe the current rollout schedule, being pushed solely to meet ministerial commitments, forces staff into an intolerable situation and risks inflicting more harm on claimants, and should be suspended.
More: https://www.pcs.org.uk/news/pause-universal-credit-rollout-to-fix-problems
We’re having a go at creating a snowball, in mid summer 😊;
Following their report will Citizens Advice nationally and locally now not accept funding for digital & budgetting support etc provision under local DWP partnership funding as full service UC is rolled out?