Following compelling evidence of the problems in the rollout of Universal Credit in its recent follow ups the Work and Pensions Committee has re-launched its inquiry and is accepting written submissions.
However, the inquiry was relaunched last month, on 21 February, and the deadline for written submissions is Monday 20 March 2017.
You can submit your views through the Universal Credit inquiry page.
Call for written submissions
The Committee invites written submissions addressing one or more of the following points:
- How long are people waiting for their Universal Credit claim to be processed, and what impact is this having on them?
- How are claimants managing with being paid Universal Credit monthly in arrears?
- Has Universal Credit improved the accuracy of payments?
- Have claimants reported making a new claim for Universal Credit, and then found that the system has not registered their claim correctly?
- What impact is Universal Credit having on rent arrears, what effect is this having on landlords and claimants, and how could the situation be improved?
- Would certain groups benefit from greater payment process flexibility and, if so, what might the Government do to facilitate it?
- Does Universal Credit provide people in emergency temporary accommodation with the support they need, and how could this be improved?
- What impact is Universal Credit having on the income and costs of local authorities, housing associations, charities and other local organisations?
- How well is Universal Support working, and how could it been improved?
- What impact has the introduction of full Universal Credit service had in areas where it has replaced the live service?
Chair’s comment:
Frank Field MP, Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee said:
“Huge delays in people receiving payments from Universal Credit have resulted in claimants falling into debt and rent arrears, caused health problems and led to many having to rely on food banks. It is bad enough that UC has a built-in six-week wait between someone applying and them receiving their first payment, but we have heard that many have to wait much longer than this. The adverse impact on claimants, local authorities, landlords and charities is entirely disproportionate to the small numbers currently claiming UC, yet Lord Freud has told us he thinks it will take decades to optimise the system. We have therefore felt compelled to investigate UC yet again. We will examine what its impact is on claimants and those local bodies which deal with them, and what Government needs to do to ease the pressure on those worst affected.”
Further information
- Guidance: written submissions
- About Parliament: Select committees
- Visiting Parliament: Watch committees
Don’t forget the deadline for written submissions is Monday 20 March 2017.
Submit your views through the Universal Credit inquiry page.
Politics and Insights 
Reblogged this on michaelsnaith.
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At nearly 75, we should consider whether the unspeakable Mr Field is too old to be leeching on the public purse.
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There is a minimum age, why not a maximum age for both houses?
With a maximum number of terms for the commons and a minimum attendance and active participation required (subject to a WCA, if needed, to get rid of the scroungers) for votes and financial recompense in both?
Failing to attend a debate or meeting should incurr a six week withdrawal of public funding in the first instance, building up to three years for repeat offenders. Possibly with loss of any honours and all taxpayers money for any ill mannered behaviour.
Work, as IDS reminded us, sets people free and people must be incentivised.
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I think Frank Field is ok, he seems genuinely concerned at the situation many on benefits face.
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If as fraud says it is going to take decades to optimise the system, surely it should be scrapped and something more suitable put in place.
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Reblogged this on sdbast.
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Since being swapped over to universal credit our life has been miserable. We only used it because I was between jobs for just over 2 months. Payments were a week late and always around 300 a month lower than they should be with no explanation why at all. We have had information kept from us and all I all felt like they were out to reduce number of people on universal credit by sanctioning them at every opportunity instead of helping at all. Treated very badly by them throughout. Luckily ive found a job now so we will be ok but no thanks at all to universal credit. Its an unfair system that leaves family’s worried and unsure. Trying to get answers over the phone is a complete waste of time aswell as none of there staff admit to being able to answer any questions uou have and if theres a problem with payments its always anoyher department they cant put u fru 2 so can never get help or answers. Very depressing and worrying time.
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Awful. Hope the new job works out well for you.
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Sad to hear that Dave, I have had a grovelling apology of sorts from someone in the DWP but I will write back and tell them what really happened and how negligent they were.
I am at least glad to know from your reply that I am not alone in having a bad deal from their telephone service.
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Reblogged this on perfectlyfadeddelusions.
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I waited nearly 7 weeks for my first payment . My landlord was fed up waiting for his rent . But it was okay as the dwp gave me a loan of 155 pounds to last me until i got my first payment . Then i started work for an agency . After 4 months my contract ended . And then it was 5 more weeks of waiting for my uc payment
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I think it is a load of bull
Shit and not Working
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I have written in reply regarding Universal Credit and the shambolic way that the DWP treated me whilst I was unemployed in 2016 which is now subject of a ‘sensitive’ Tier 2 complaint, thanks to my MP getting involved.
UC is not fit for purpose nor is the DWP, they were grossly negligent in my case in asking for correct information and took a decision based on old information that was not correct.
I told the UC enquiry that we need a Basic Income system to replace the nasty, sanction based shambles that is in operation. Good riddance Universal credit.
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Best of luck with your complaint.
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This is the latest Parliamentary committee meeting Feb 2017 Lord Freud explains why Universal Credit is in such a mess – Chaired by Frank Field. Interesting to note Mr Field hasn’t mentioned any of what he learned at that meeting when criticising Universal Credit.
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/6911af5e-eb1c-478e-b3fb-d26b28ab5997
Further written evidence from Halton Housing Trust (UCR0120) http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/work-and-pensions-committee/universal-credit-rollout/written/71421.pdf
27 October 2017
Committee Chair Frank Field MP calls evidence submitted to the Committee by Halton Housing Trust the “most damning” he has ever read on what he describes as Department for Work and Pensions “maladministration.”
http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/work-and-pensions-committee/news-parliament-2017/halton-housing-trust/
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In fairness, this is just one of the sessions, which was strictly about the Halton housing trust evidence, and is part of an ongoing investigation.
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