Select committee: Economic Affairs Committee
Recommendation 58
2nd Report - Universal Credit isn't working: proposals for reform
Published 31 Jul 2020
Paragraph 269
Economic Affairs Committee The economics of Universal Credit All items in this report Report on parliament.uk ↗ Inquiry on parliament.uk ↗
Recommendation (the committee's words)
It should not be necessary for claimants to require specialist help to navigate the system. As this is necessary under Universal Credit, claimants have a right to informed, independent and free advice. The benefit has had a dramatic impact on the provision of support services by local authorities, housing providers and community-based advice bodies, as helping claimants to navigate the system has become one of the main functions of such services. Claimants have a right to such support; but this has had a significant impact on the budgets of such organisations. The Government should devise a fund for supporting this work , work alongside local authorities to identify best practice for providing ongoing and accessible advice, and publish the results .
From: Economic Affairs Committee, 2nd Report - Universal Credit isn't working: proposals for reform, paragraph 269, 31 July 2020
Government response
The government responded to the whole report on 13 October 2020 (deadline 30 September 2020).
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.The Government 'notes' the Committee's recommendations and says it is 'surprised by several of the Committee's observations', and in the areas covered below it does not take forward the main design changes proposed.
- On payment design, the Department says it "will not be taking this recommendation forward" on a three-month fixed award, and "will not be introducing this choice by default" of monthly or twice-monthly payment. It cites accuracy risks and preparation for monthly paid work.
- The Department states that "in 2021 we will be increasing the time over which an advance can be repaid to from 12 to 24 months". It "rejects" the proposed non-repayable two-week initial grant, citing fraud risk.
- The Department "does not accept" the recommendations on the two-child limit and on reducing the taper rate. It says it "keeps the taper rate under review".
- It "intend[s] to keep childcare support integrated as part of UC" and "does not publish estimates of UC take-up rates". On the benefit cap, it "acknowledges" the recommendation and says the statutory review "will happen at an appropriate time".