SSAC puts forward policy recommendations to address ‘rough edges’ in DWP’s emergency response to COVID-19

Committee's proposals include increasing JSA and ESA in line with universal credit standard allowances, and taking action to ensure those affected by the benefit cap are not disadvantaged

The Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) has put forward a number of policy recommendations to address the 'rough edges' in the DWP's emergency response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

In a letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Dr Thérèse Coffey, the SSAC pays tribute to the work that the DWP has undertaken to make major legislative and operational adjustments to the benefits and tax credits system during the COVID-19 crisis, but observes that - 

'Given the pace and scale of these changes, there are unsurprisingly some ‘rough edges’ and inconsistencies where strengthening or amendment of the new policies may be appropriate.'

Noting that, due to the urgency of the situation, the Committee did not take draft regulations on formal reference at the time, the SSAC now recommends that the government - 

• increase the rates of employment and support allowance (ESA) and jobseeker's allowance (JSA) in line with the previously announced increases in universal credit and working tax credit and backdate the uplift to 6 April 2020 - the same date that the universal credit and working tax credit changes took effect;
• suspend the shared accommodation rate in the local housing allowance (LHA) to reduce the financial shock that might otherwise impact people coming onto the benefit system having lost their job, many of whom are young people;
• consider what action can be taken to ensure that the additional support provided so far benefits all cases - specifically those affected by the benefit cap; and  
• provide further information on the steps that will be taken to ensure people do not suffer detriment due to unclear official communications, in particular losing entitlement to tax credits due to having made a claim for universal credit, and the redress that can be sought for those who have already been disadvantaged, for example being allowed to have their tax credit claims reinstated.

For more information see COVID-19: Letter to Secretary of State from SSAC from gov.uk