Source · National Audit Office

Progress in implementing Universal Credit

Published: 27 Feb 2024 Recommendations: 4 Type: Value for Money NAO confirmed: 4 Department: Department for Work and Pensions

One in five people on Tax Credits who were invited to move to Universal Credit (UC) did not then claim UC and had their benefits stopped.

Dept: Department for Work and Pensions Topics: BenefitsWork, welfare and pensions nao.org.uk →

Recommendations

4 items

4 accepted 3 implemented 1 in progress

Rec	Recommendation	Addressee	Acceptance	Implementation
1	DWP should continue to build its evidence base on how effectively UC is working, through monitoring, research and evaluation, as part of its ongoing work on benefits realisation generally and on assessing labour market impact specifically. Ref Page 12, Paragraph 22, point a · Implemented Q2 2026-27	Department for Work and Pensions	Accepted	In progress ✓ NAO
2	DWP should update its cost and benefit estimates to reflect the impact of the delay to the move of ESA claimants to UC. Ref Page 12, Paragraph 22, point b · Implemented 10/2024	Department for Work and Pensions	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
3	DWP should continue the research and testing needed to develop a better understanding of why some legacy benefit claimants do not claim UC and take prompt action, where the evidence indicates it is needed, to adapt its approach and address barriers to claiming. Ref Page 12, Paragraph 22, point c · Implemented Summer 2025	Department for Work and Pensions	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO
4	DWP should put in place arrangements, informed by its research and testing, to provide effective support for DWP legacy benefit claimants as potentially more vulnerable claimants move to UC. Ref Page 12, Paragraph 22, point d · Implemented 08/2024	Department for Work and Pensions	Accepted	Implemented ✓ NAO

Public Accounts Committee follow-up

2 reports

The Public Accounts Committee examined this NAO report and published its own recommendations. The government responds to PAC recommendations via Treasury Minutes.

26 Apr 2024 Public Accounts C… Twenty-Ninth Report - Progress in implementing Universal Credit — 17 recommendations · parliament.uk

26 Oct 2018 Public Accounts C… 64th Report - Universal Credit · parliament.uk