It is known that the transfer of 1.7 million interest applicants to Universal Credit, which has been put on hold due to Covid, will begin this week. It is believed that ministers planned to move people “slowly” this spring in the midst of a resumption of the process.
The DWP will start with a small number of tax credit applicants of up to 10,000 families. So they plan to raise the bar and transition to disability and other benefits seekers so that by the end of 2024 everyone can have access to the new benefits six in one, according to The Mirror.
But charities and the state welfare watchdog have raised fears of a resumption of “orderly immigration” of old-fashioned contenders. One of the charity’s leaders said the Department of Work and Pensions should avoid “repeating the early stages of the universal credit clover.”
Dr Stephen Bryan, chair of the Social Security Advisory Committee, said there was a need for “independent oversight and scrutiny” and told ministers: “I can guarantee you don’t want to delay the process for too long.
“In this case, we will not conduct large-scale public consultations, but we intend to seek advice from a small number of experts, including those with significant experience or expertise in and managing rapid operations.”
Comprehensive credit reform has already been implemented several times. The six-week waiting period was reduced to five, the employee’s allowance was increased, and the amount owed to repay debts was reduced.
Anila Anwar, chief executive of charity Z2K, said raising the 10,000 cap should get new approval in Parliament. He added, “This ensures that the Doha Work Program avoids a repeat of the unfortunate early stages of universal credit, when many people are left homeless for weeks or even months. As a result, parliamentarians have received hundreds of complaints from desperate and angry voters.”
The DWP’s permanent secretary, Peter Scofield, said in November that it was “determined” to use the comprehensive credit in full by December 2024. “We have received funding in the spending review to complete it on time,” he told MPs.
This move will be a “slow, slow, slow experiment,” said Neil Colling, BENEFIT CEO, adding, “You have to develop your operations and do it on a small scale.”
A DWP spokesperson said, “Global Credit is a modern, dynamic benefit that supports people at work and abroad. We have always made clear our ambition to keep people away from complex, inefficient, legacy systems based on outdated and inflexible IT.
“The administration will continue to work with the Commission on a regular basis and our ambition remains to ensure the safe and timely distribution of universal credit by 2024.
Source: Belfastlive
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
