Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 43
43
The Universal Credit Transition Fund is an initiative to support vulnerable people in applying for...
Recommendation
The Universal Credit Transition Fund is an initiative to support vulnerable people in applying for Universal Credit as soon as they are eligible, and rightly puts organisations that work most closely with these groups at the centre. Timely applications to Universal Credit will mitigate the impact of the five-week wait. The disruption created by coronavirus this year has left the future funding of the Fund in some doubt. We recommend that the Department and HM Treasury continue the Universal Credit Transition Fund by renewing its funding for the next financial year. (Paragraph 183) Improving payments
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
As the Committee will be aware, the UC Transition Fund was due to launch in April 2020 to provide vulnerable people with help to navigate the welfare system and move towards work. Following the outbreak of COVID-19, we regrettably had to suspend bids for the Transition Fund. The Government remains committed to supporting the essential work the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise Sector do in our communities. The Coronavirus Community Support Fund was launched in May as part of the Chancellor’s £750m package of support to charities and organisations at the heart of their communities that are making a big difference during the COVID-19 outbreak. The Flexible Support Fund – for which we have increased funding by £150m - provides help for people at a local level across Great Britain, including by increasing the capacity of the Rapid Response Service, which delivers support and advice to employers and their employees when faced with redundancy. The Department also continues to grant fund Help to Claim via Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland, worth up to £39 million this year, to deliver tailored, practical support to people making a UC claim up to their first full, correct payment being received.