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Latest press reports on UC

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John Birks
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Paul_Treloar_AgeUK - 18 December 2018 09:14 AM
Peter Turville - 18 December 2018 09:10 AM

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/dec/17/amber-rudd-urged-to-make-benefits-system-more-humane-for-christmas

Including the classic ” .... but many disabled people on universal credit will be better off on average by £100 month than when they received ESA.” The old ones are the best at Xmas!

Really can’t get my head around why this Universal Credit scraps Christmas bonus story is gaining traction. I had a debate with someone a few days ago on Twitter who said this and I pointed out they were incorrect.

Since then, it’s been picked up as a live issue by the Mirror, the i and now the Guardian, as well as the Daily Record in Scotland. There’s a lot wrong with UC but this isn’t something that makes any sense at all.

In 2017, the relative price worth of £10.00 from 1974 is:
£99.10 using the retail price index

£87.60 using the GDP deflator

The relative wage or income worth of £10.00 from 1974 is:
£145.00 using the average earnings
£187.00 using the per capita GDP

The relative output worth of £10.00 from 1974 is:
£220.00 using the GDP

https://www.measuringworth.com/calculators/ukcompare/result.php?year_source=1974&amount=10.00&year_result=2018

 

Andrew Dutton
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Andrew Dutton
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...and as a counter to DWP claims that the Managed Migration Regs will be discussed ‘in due course’- this:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/dec/19/westminster-brexit-debates-laws-legislation

 

 

shawn mach
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The work and pensions secretary, Amber Rudd, has signalled that she would consider further policy changes and rollout delays to restore public confidence in universal credit ...

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/dec/19/amber-rudd-warns-of-further-delays-to-universal-credit

 

shawn mach
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shawn - 19 December 2018 02:54 PM

The work and pensions secretary, Amber Rudd, has signalled that she would consider further policy changes and rollout delays to restore public confidence in universal credit ...

Here’s the coverage of today’s Work and Pensions Committee hearing with Amber Rudd and DWP Permanent Secretary Peter Schofield:

https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/3c6433a1-7bfc-44cf-9ba4-40ebe456654a

Andrew Dutton
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Re. comments such as “We’re only in the foothills”  - etc etc, a little humility at last. Just a little.

Next question: why the huge, sweeping claims of total, brilliant success from the inception of UC to date - and ongoing? Why all the appalling non-stop bragging?

If you’re only in the foothills (having faffed around in base camp for a very long time), why keep boasting that you’ve conquered the summit?

Andrew Dutton
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-46649160  Get in debt or turn down job? Universal Credit’s ‘stark choice’

DWP’s defence is the same old line, the same old discredited claim about getting people in to work.

Vonny
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They get away with never being pulled up - yes get more help with childcare costs with UC, but never mention it was them that cut amount of childcare in tax credits down from 80% to 70% just blame the old system and whistle

Andrew Dutton
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Peter Turville
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Andrew Dutton
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https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/universal-credit-250000-parents-workers-13803710

250,000 forced on to UC without protection.

DWP: “People only move onto Universal Credit from existing benefits if they have a change in circumstances – this ensures they’re receiving the right level of support.”

Er…..that’s just not true, is it chaps?

“Universal Credit is a force for good for many, and over 1.4 million people are now successfully receiving the benefit.” - let’s think about the ‘for many’ in this sentence: is this a tacit admission that UC is just the opposite of ‘a force for good’ for the not-quite-so-many, or is it just careless wording?

Paul_Treloar_AgeUK
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The Department of Work and Pensions is under fire for failing to track data on the number of people who make Universal Credit applications without using a computer, HuffPost UK can reveal.

The ambitious roll-out of the new benefits system is the government’s first digital-only service of this scale, and means claimants must apply online.

But there has been widespread concern the tech-based system is leading to digital exclusion for those who do not have access to a computer or are not IT literate.

Now, HuffPost UK can reveal that two years and seven months into the digital implementation of Universal Credit, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says it does not hold any data on the number of claimants attempting to apply offline.

In a freedom of information request HuffPost UK asked the DWP what proportion of the current 1.2 million people receiving Universal Credit had first made claims using methods other than digital – for example by visiting a Job Centre, in person, or by telephone.

The department told HuffPost UK it did not hold this data.

Exclusive: DWP Holds No Data On People Who Can’t Claim For Universal Credit Online

Andrew Dutton
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Ianb
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Andrew Dutton
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Andrew Dutton
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https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/feb/06/call-for-universal-credit-overhaul-amid-fears-of-looming-evictions-crisis

Citizens Advice has called for a root and branch overhaul of universal credit, after revealing that half of all claimants who came to it for help managing the new benefit were at risk of being evicted owing to rent arrears and hardship.


A DWP spokesperson said: “Most people on universal credit are happy managing their money, but budgeting support is available for anyone who needs extra help. Many people join Universal Credit with existing rent arrears, but this falls by a third after four months.”

Oooo, budgeting support eh? ‘Until April when we drop it like a hot brick’, s/he might have added…..

Mike Hughes
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Paul_Treloar_AgeUK - 04 January 2019 09:25 AM

The Department of Work and Pensions is under fire for failing to track data on the number of people who make Universal Credit applications without using a computer, HuffPost UK can reveal.

The ambitious roll-out of the new benefits system is the government’s first digital-only service of this scale, and means claimants must apply online.

But there has been widespread concern the tech-based system is leading to digital exclusion for those who do not have access to a computer or are not IT literate.

Now, HuffPost UK can reveal that two years and seven months into the digital implementation of Universal Credit, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) says it does not hold any data on the number of claimants attempting to apply offline.

In a freedom of information request HuffPost UK asked the DWP what proportion of the current 1.2 million people receiving Universal Credit had first made claims using methods other than digital – for example by visiting a Job Centre, in person, or by telephone.

The department told HuffPost UK it did not hold this data.

Exclusive: DWP Holds No Data On People Who Can’t Claim For Universal Credit Online

Have only just taken this one on board. So, we’ve just given Citizens Advice the biggest contract in their history and DWP have literally no data on how many people might need that support! Wow.

Andrew Dutton
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https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/feb/11/universal-credit-rollout-linked-to-rising-food-bank-use-amber-rudd-admits

Amber Rudd, the work and pensions secretary, has conceded that the rollout of universal credit has contributed to an increase in food bank use, going back on previous ministerial claims that this was not the case.


https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/universal-credit-food-bank-amber-rudd-welfare-department-work-pensions-dwp-a8773931.html

[ Edited: 11 Feb 2019 at 04:49 pm by Andrew Dutton ]
Andrew Dutton
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https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/feb/12/universal-credit-channel-4-documentary-dwp

‘Minor tweaks can’t address the deep, inhuman flaws of universal credit’

Andrew Dutton
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ClairemHodgson
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Andrew Dutton
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‘The DWP referred an approach for comment to HMRC, which cited improvements to universal credit. A statement said: “Since January 2018, customers can get an advance of up to 100% of their estimated monthly UC entitlement while they wait for their first payment.”

That’s all right then isn’t it????

Consistent with the strategy of only admitting to problems after a long, long delay and then claiming that all criticisms are ‘out of date’. 

 

Paul_Treloar_AgeUK
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Apologies in advance for a shocker of a website (videos popping up, plastered in adverts etc) but this case is an even bigger shocker, let along the risible response from a DWP spokesperson.

A young autistic man with learning disabilities has not had any income for more than SIX MONTHS amid a Universal Credit wrangle.

Jon*, 22, who had been in foster care since he was ten, is now on the verge of eviction from his council flat. Due to problems with his applications for Universal Credit , compounded by his health issues, Jon has not received any Universal Credit payments since October - more than six months ago.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: “Universal Credit is a force for good and work coaches have the flexibility to support vulnerable individuals when we are made aware of their circumstances.

“People may have their benefits reduced if they repeatedly fail to attend appointments they’ve agreed to, but there are safeguards in place to stop people falling into financial hardship.”

Autistic man ‘on verge of eviction’ after six-month Universal Credit wrangle

Andrew Dutton
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https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/frank-field-universal-credit-treatment-work-pensions-committee-dwp-a8863326.html

Frank Field’s letter to A Rudd and P Hammond -

https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/work-and-pensions/FF-SoS-PM-UCTC-research-17-19.pdf

‘The Department has repeatedly told us it is taking a “test and learn” approach to
Universal Credit. Claimants and support organisations need to know what the Department is
learning from its “tests” if they are to have any faith in Universal Credit working well. ‘

The continuing ‘good news’ culture at DWP, its denial of any and all problems, refusal to allow individual complaints to proceed (often by playing games regarding explicit consent) and its constant dismissal of all criticism does not bode well for UC ever being made to work at all, never mind well.

Vonny
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Our new system is more generous than the old system (ssshhh - no-one will notice it was us who changed the old system - just pretend the collation gov was nothing to do with us!)

shawn mach
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All good in Hull and Middlesbrough ...

The building may look uninspiring from the outside but, inside, cheery Jobcentre staff are there to take away your blues and set you on the right path.

Jen adds: “We want to allay their fears and the Jobcentre is a nice place to come into and talk to people. We offer a bespoke service and not one size fits all.

“We know we don’t always get it right but out ultimate aim is to get is right in the end and to make life easier for people in Hull.”

More: https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-yorkshire-news/behind-scenes-hulls-jobcentre-staff-2702107

“I’m not sitting here and saying there are no issues, that there haven’t been problems, but I can honestly say that in my 20 plus years experience this is the best it has been to get people back into work.

.... I’ve got staff who’ve worked here for decades and they can see how much more beneficial this is. I’ve not spoken to one work coach who hasn’t said it’s better.”

More: https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/dwp-universal-credit-claim-start-16145833

Benny Fitzpatrick
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One can’t accuse them of having a “good-news” culture, can one?

Andrew Dutton
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The structure and wording of these reports seems remarkably similar to items I saw recently on local news websites for other areas - one Peterborough and one Leicester, if memory serves, and I’m sure there were more than that.

The reports are all about how UC has a bad reputation but DWP staff think it is wonderful.

I suspect this is a publicity campaign by DWP rather than local journalists looking in to UC without being prompted. A template is at work here.


Benny Fitzpatrick
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I suspect you are right. It bears all the hallmarks of the DWP “fake news” department. I’ll wager the “quotes” are from actors (again), or just made up.

shawn mach
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Andrew Dutton - 23 April 2019 11:43 AM

The structure and wording of these reports seems remarkably similar to items I saw recently on local news websites for other areas - one Peterborough and one Leicester, if memory serves, and I’m sure there were more than that.

The reports are all about how UC has a bad reputation but DWP staff think it is wonderful.

I suspect this is a publicity campaign by DWP rather than local journalists looking in to UC without being prompted. A template is at work here.

Aha ..... here’s Leicester -

The new simplified system doesn’t have the best reputation, with many widely-reported horror stories about how it’s affected people.

... But if you speak to the dedicated Jobcentre staff who deal with Universal Credit, there’s a different story to be told.

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/jobcentre-staff-reveal-truth-universal-2681718