IB JSA claimants being told by Jobcentre workers that blocks of claimants have to move to UC

Exchange of letters between Frank Field and Amber Rudd:

From Frank Field:

... you offered to look into specific examples of claimants being encouraged to move to UC even though they had not had a change in circumstance. You will have seen that, in oral evidence, NAWRA referred to reports on Rightsnet of this happening in Bridport, Stockton, Renfrewshire and Middlesbrough.

I would suggest that you ask your officials to work with advice services in those areas to find out more about what is happening on the ground. Reports of this happening can be found here: https://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/12851

https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/work-and-pensions/Correspondence/Letter-from-Chair-to-Secretary-of-State-for-Work-and-Pensions-re-natural-migration-20190320.pdf

Response from Amber Rudd:

... there is no policy in place to move people onto UC; and accordingly, there is no guidance to staff on advising people to move to UC or tools to facilitate this.

Following the statements of NAWRA to the Committee, my officials checked with the relevant offices who confirmed that there was no such policy operating locally. If NAWRA are able to share their small number of specific examples, we will of course look into them.

https://www.parliament.uk/documents/commons-committees/work-and-pensions/Correspondence/Letter-from-Rt-Hon-Amber-Rudd-MP-re-UC-natural-migration-20190424.pdf

Done the deed forwarded our evidence to NAWRA rep.

Cheers Andy :)