New ‘Could UC be for you?’ campaign

We were told at stakeholder meeting yesterday that this is now live on social media and via webpage

Here are some of the related tweets:

Claiming #UniversalCredit while working helped Samantha work part-time and her Work Coach helped her set up a yoga business.

#UniversalCredit helped Claire by supporting her to pursue and secure her dream job.  ???? Claire was supported back to work by her Work Coach, and found a job as a @StagecoachYrks bus driver.

#UniversalCredit helped Claire find a new career as a bus driver to support her daughter.

#UniversalCredit makes it easier to take temporary or seasonal work. Eligibility criteria apply.

I don’t think that is a real picture of Samantha from Wiltshire on that tweet! Past DWP ads would point to stock photographs used with fictional comment.

Did they mention any plans for non-English versions, Bulgarian and Romanian would be helpful.

On that subject does anyone know of Bulgarian or Romanian factsheets about the basic principles of UC. The Northern Ireland gov do them but all the phone numbers seem to be wrong for the UK mainland.

I think we are already seeing ‘suggestions’ from work coaches to move to UC when this isn’t really in the claimant’s interest.

The focus seems to be on how it would help if you are in work, regardless of whether you are actually in work. And without considering the fact that you might be worse off in short or long term.

And, just in time for the phasing out of the £20 UC increase announced today by Dr C…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41487126

Will DWP draw up a list of people to leave well alone until proper Transitional Protection is in place?

How does this sit with DWP’s previous ‘we don’t give benefits advice’ stance?

Will DWP take any responsibility if someone claims UC and hits real trouble? Or will it be ‘we merely offered them a choice’?