Citizens Advice say too many people struggle to make a Universal Credit claim
New report by Citizens Advice England and Wales highlights that 1 in 6 new claimants are not paid in full and on time.
Citizens Advice England and Wales has published a report, Making a Universal Credit Claim, which highlights that 1 in 6 new claimants are not paid in full and on time.
The report echoes in particular two concerns addressed in the Five Asks campaign launched by the SFHA and the three other UK housing federations: NHF, CHC and NIFHA. The report calls for reform of Universal Support Delivered Locally as well as full rollout of the Landlord Portal.
Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said:
"While Universal Credit is working well for some, 1 in 6 claimants wait longer than 5 weeks for their first full payment. This puts them at risk of falling behind on bills and struggling financially - a heavy price to pay for a system that isn’t working properly for everyone."
Commenting on the report, SFHA Policy Advisor Jeremy Hewer said:
"This is yet another report that highlights the deficiencies of the current manifestation of Universal Credit. The rollout of Universal Credit Full Service is due to recommence after its summer firebreak to the rest of Scotland, including to the cities of Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh. To roll it out in its current state would in SFHA's opinion not be wise, which is why we have called for a pause to allow essential fixes to be put into place."