DWP Has Made ‘Little Progress On UC’ Says Report
Little progress has been made on the roll-out of universal credit with just 0.3% of the eligible population receiving it by October last year, concludes a damning report out today.
This is despite the £700m spent on the programme since it began in 2010, says the government’s spending watchdog the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
‘We hope the [Work and Pensions] department’s expectation that this number will rise significantly by February 2016 proves to be accurate,’ the chair of the committee Margaret Hodge stated.
Fewer than 18,000 people were claiming universal credit by October 2014, the committee report explains, out of about seven million expected in the longer term.
The watchdog was also critical of the IT infrastructure for the programme, which it says is of ‘particular concern’.
It has cost the Department for Work and Pensions [DWP] £344m so far to develop its ‘live’ service systems for claimants.
‘Yet it expects to re-use just £34m worth of this IT in the longer term,’ said Ms Hodge.
The chair also explained she was ‘disappointed that the department chose to fight a protracted legal battle to prevent the publication of its programme milestones schedules against which it could be held to account publicly’.
Although, she notes the department now appears to have improved its governance of the programme and become more open recently.
The report recommends the DWP publically sets out its current milestones for universal credit, and clearly explains any future changes to scope, cost and timings of these.
Landlords reported earlier this month their IT systems were limiting their ability to prepare for universal credit.
Four in 10 universal credit claimants also said universal credit did not make it easier to claim benefits, according to a survey published by the Department for Work and Pensions this month.
A DWP spokesperson said: ‘Universal credit is on track and we are making good progress – almost 64,000 people have made a claim, and this time next year, universal credit will be in every Jobcentre in the country.’
Evidence shows it is ‘transforming lives’ and using existing IT ‘ensures value for money and will save the taxpayer over £2bn’, he added.
Same Difference 
Value for money funny man rtu ids it hasnt saved nowt having been reset funny no it isnt he wasted billions on his welfare schemes its
utterly how he can get away with it thirty one thousand on uc that
in itself is a sign that his uc isnt working but then how are our mps not
giving him more stick has his lies come out about this uc strangely not many have picked up on the working people part has now they under
uc can and will be called into the jcp for that interview on whot are you
doing to get off benefits yep hes now going after those who work you bet the savings from them getting sanctioned will go back into that pot ready to be paid out to his mates companies it was never about saving you but to get their grubby greedie hands on the tax payers pot jeff3
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Another failed computer system – like so many before it. £m wasted – & no-one held to account.
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Reblogged this on sdbast.
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“64,000 people have made a claim, and this time next year, universal credit will be in every Jobcentre in the country.” ??!!
Firstly, I very much doubt that in just under 5 months they’ve added another 46,000 claimants.
Secondly, as for UC being in ever Jobcentre by this time next year, I believe they announced a few weeks ago that it was ALREADY rolled out to all Jobcentres??!!
The only time they lie is….
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Reblogged this on Britain Isn't Eating.
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Utter nonsense – UC can’t handle the daily and weekly changes to anyone’s claims for benefits. It can only just about handle a single person, who lives at home and is trying hard to find a job. Change that to a married couple with a child on the way and their need for housing benefit, as well as maternity pay and they computer will crash and die. If only IDS could do the same…
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Reblogged this on Jay's Journal.
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