“Universal credit simple for most” - more DWP spin?

New research shows the majority of claimants are ready to manage their own money, including paying their rent direct to landlords, ahead of Universal Credit, Lord Freud the Minister for Welfare Reform announced today.

54% of respondents thought they would be able to manage direct payment of housing benefit. About a quarter (24%) reported that they would need support if Housing Benefit were to be paid directly to them.

Freud: Universal Credit switch will be simple for most –  but we must prepare early

By my reading of the above, that leaves 26% of respondents who couldn’t manage direct payments, even with support, which is a huge amount when considered against the 6-8million people who will fall under universal credit when rolled out nationwide.

The statement “Most tenants prioritise the payment of their rent, fully understanding that non-payment would result in eviction. But some could imagine a situation when their housing benefit could be spent to cover unexpected expenses.” is also very worrying - if the people who report being able to cope with direct payments can envisage using HB money to pay for other things, what does that say about those people who would struggle anyway?

I have heard that the proposed new app takes approx 90 minutes on line.

Can anybody advise me, if that is true, or not?

If so, that will be difficult for anybody using the computers at our local library - I think they limit each person to an hour at a time.

The council round here wants to shut most librarys

Hmmm one hour and twety five minutes of slog, only to get a page not found, is going to be a tad difficult to take.

Not least for the next person waiting to use the PC…...

Interesting use of ‘prepare early’ too. The gov’t has boasted of how far-reaching these changes are, they come in next year and ‘next year’ is nearly here, there aren’t full Regulations yet, there are doubts about various IT aspects of the project, how they will support claimants who can’t manage claims online is vague at best, and they want to be ready for all of this ‘early’????

I gave up on Lord Freud some time ago - compare what he said about online claiming a while back with the far more aggressive line actually taken by the government. Never trust a talking suit.

Will a smart phone last 1 hour 25 minutes before shutting down, and for those on pay as you go….....

We are also finding a real push for online claims by housing benefit sections and having to argue for paper claims to be issued. Option of telephone claims are not viewed by customers as an acceptable alternative, taking a long timeto complete and can be confusing. So if our experience is anything to go by, lengthy online claims as planned for UC will cause serious difficulties for our customers. The Gateway process is not an easy one - have experience of self employed tax returns!

Well the govt is hoping that 50% of folks come oct 213 will apply on line, then rising to 80%+

So some questions from a old UNISON report.  April 2012

http://www.unison.org.uk/acrobat/WhyUniversalCreditisanissue.pdf

So for the other 50%

How will someone apply locally?
? Where will they apply locally?
? What documents will they need and where will they take them locally?
? Where will there be a local ‘Universal Credit’ office be?
? What office accommodation will be used?
? How many staff will be needed?
? How does someone get face to face advice and help if they have a problem?

Have we simple answers?

Well Martin B, I think we can safely say that the other 50% will find full time jobs that pay over and above the level of Universal Credit, and therefore float off the benefits system and live happily ever after. LOL

“How will someone apply locally?” 
They can’t

? “Where will they apply locally?” 
Nowhere

? “What documents will they need and where will they take them locally?”
A certificate of moral rectitude from IDS scanned in and e-mailed.

? “Where will there be a local ‘Universal Credit’ office be?” 
I refer my right honourable friend to the answers to questions 1 and 2

? “What office accommodation will be used?” 
We’re not telling the likes of you

? “How many staff will be needed?” 
One, to turn on the computer each morning

? “How does someone get face to face advice and help if they have a problem?” 
Do we look like we care?

Have we simple answers? 
Go away.

Thats, one in the eye for me then.

We were at a DWP briefing recently-with UC computers are going to be referred to as an “Internet Access Device” Why?!

Then you might like to have a lie down after reading this.

http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/3412/

edited to insert missing word

“Internet Access Device” covers more than just computers. Come on, only fuddy-duddies use a “PC” any more. The benefit claimant of the future will be using his tablet, netbook or smartphone to interface with UC. Probably while on the go between job interviews, patching into the cloud through a wifi hotspot.

Of course! Silly me, i should have realised! Thank you for the link Nevip, i had a quick glance but i think at this late hour i shall look forward to a proper read of it whilst all fresh, energised and waiting for clients with ESA decision letters in the morning!

Thank you all, for your informative posting.

I appear to have been confusing IADs with IEDs.

I thought the DWP was trying to blow claimants up.

But I was mistaken…...