Today our national policy team have published a blog post exploring some of their main concerns with the ‘managed migration’ of claimants from legacy benefits to Universal Credit. They highlight five key problems:
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Too few people are claiming Universal Credit when required to do so. Around 25% of tax credit claimants have seen their claims terminated, losing an average of £370 per month.
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Claimants with vulnerabilities may need additional support. The post highlights people with complex needs and circumstances, people with digital access and capability, people with English as a second language, older claimants, and people with terminal illnesses. This is especially important now that migration for irESA claimants will be brought forward
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Some people are missing out on transitional protections. Confusing communications from DWP mean that some have claimed Universal Credit before they become entitled to transitional protection.
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The five-week wait means many people will start their Universal Credit claim in debt to DWP. Run-on payments do not bridge the gap in full, and are not available to all.
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Managed migration will create overpayment debts for many people. Historic overpayments are being identified by the migration process, and the government is committed to recovering overpayments caused by its own mistakes in calculating the transitional element.