Planned closure of UC live service in Spring 2019

This news story DWP confirms that universal credit live service due to close by spring 2019 makes me puzzled.

If the live service is closed in spring 2019, what happens to everyone currently claiming the live service version of UC? They’re not going to be able to transfer everyone across in one go I would imagine, particularly in light of the other thread about the hoops they make people jump through to get onto full service from live service.

Have I missed something (always possible)?

This is the guidance on what they do to people who live in such areas and already have award made further to a claim when area was live service:

http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2017-0556/112_Transfer_from_Live_Service_to_Full_Service_WC_v8.0.pdf

They say:

“All Live Service (LS) claimants will need to transfer to the full service from 3 months after FS goes live in a specified post-code area. This is known as A-
Day.”

A-Day! I love this stuff. Like D-Day but for benefit processors. Get up those beaches chaps!

Also… love the contortions needed to talk about “FS goes live”.... when what they mean is “live service ends and it becomes FS”.

Sorry…. more seriously:

1. I have to say I have some doubts about the use of the suspension and termination procedures in this situation.
2. So they think they can get all live service users in a full service postcode area switched in 3 months.

Martin Williams - 26 September 2018 04:59 PM

2. So they think they can get all live service users in a full service postcode area switched in 3 months.

Our local partnership manager thinks they can get approx 1500 people into the jobcentre to “make their claim” in 5 weeks..

Thanks Martin.

Rosie, your JCP are seriously thinking they’re going to process 60 people a day?!

I can see this going very well.

Paul_Treloar_AgeUK - 27 September 2018 12:04 PM

Thanks Martin.

Rosie, your JCP are seriously thinking they’re going to process 60 people a day?!

I can see this going very well.

It will be fine. There will be unicorns and rainbows.

Rosie W - 27 September 2018 01:25 PM

Paul_Treloar_AgeUK - 27 September 2018 12:04 PM

Thanks Martin.

Rosie, your JCP are seriously thinking they’re going to process 60 people a day?!

I can see this going very well.

It will be fine. There will be unicorns and rainbows.

And cake and thank you cards in abundance.

That needs to be a Kim-Joy cake.