Recommendation 91

In 2018 the DWP responded to previous concerns about access and support for Universal Credit applications by funding the ‘Help to Claim’ service. This is administered in Scotland on DWP’s behalf by Citizens Advice Scotland. The Minister for Welfare 218 Q75 219 Q120 220 Q49 221 Q75 222 Q105 223 Q122 224 Q105 225 Southside Housing Association (WPS0023) 226 Q164 Welfare policy in Scotland 37 Delivery confirmed that the system across the UK was funded ‘to the tune of £39 million’227 and has helped 250,000 people access Universal Credit in the past year.228 However, in written evidence Citizens Advice Scotland said that a drawback with the Help to Claim service is that it ‘cannot support a person with claim maintenance’229 (including the actions above in the bulleted list) and only helps people with making an initial application for a claim.