64th Report - Universal Credit
- HC No.
- HC 1183
- Published
- 26 Oct 2018
- Items
- 0
- Response
- No response document linked
Select Committee · Public Accounts Committee
Universal Credit inquiry
Status: Closed
Opened: 14 Jun 2018
Closed: 14 Jun 2018
1 report
Inquiry scope
The Government’s flagship Universal Credit programme began in 2010 and was originally scheduled to be completed in October 2017, replacing six pre-existing means-tested benefits. Following problems, the Department for Work and Pensions reset the programme in 2013 with a revised completion date in 2022; this subsequently slipped to March 2023. A new National Audit Office report into the progress of the programme found that the Government could not yet prove the programme would deliver value for money. Nor was the NAO convinced that the Government would ever be able to prove this. Delivery against some key objectives, such as reducing fraud and error and cutting administrative costs, was unclear. Whilst finding that some elements of the Universal Credit programme were working well – for example, relationships between claimants and Job Centre work coaches – some claimants have struggled to adjust to Universal Credit with one in five not receiving payments on time. In some areas where Universal Credit has been rolled out, foodbank use has increased, whilst local authorities and landlords have seen increases in rent arrears owed to them by claimants. The Committee has examined the Universal Credit programme twice since 2015. The Committee will take evidence from the Department for Work and Pensions about the programme’s value for money and the experience of claimants under the new scheme.Reports
Oral evidence sessions
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| Date | Session and witnesses | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Jul 2018 | No witnesses recorded | View ↗ |
Correspondence
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| Published | Direction | Letter |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Jul 2019 | To committee | Letter from Neil Couling to Chair in response to the follow-up letter dated 18.06.19 in relation to the Committee's report on Universal Credit - dated 27 June 2019 |
| 19 Jun 2019 | To committee | Letter from Chair to Peter Schofield in relation to treasury minute response on Universal Credit - dated 18 June 2019 |