Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 40
40
Paragraph: 180
We welcome the Minister’s recognition that the Department needs to improve its understanding of the...
Recommendation
We welcome the Minister’s recognition that the Department needs to improve its understanding of the reasons why so many people claim for Universal Credit long after they become eligible. The Department must prioritise this work so that it can tackle the problem. We recommend that the Department investigate why people take time to start a Universal Credit application and publish the results of these findings by the end of the financial year. It should use this analysis to inform its communications with claimants, to encourage people to apply for Universal Credit at the right time.
Paragraph Reference:
180
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
We agree it is vital claimants start an application at the point of need and would encourage people to check their eligibility online through independent benefit calculators which can be accessed via GOV.UK We published the UC Full Service Omnibus Survey in February 2019. This report presented findings from 2 waves of surveys with a representative sample of UC full service claimants. The surveys examined how well new claimants understand the UC claim process and their rights and responsibilities, with a view to meeting their information needs. The surveys found around a fifth of claimants delayed making a claim to UC, commonly because they thought they would find a job quickly or they did not know how to make a claim.