Responding to the statement this morning by DWP Minister
, PCS Union representing DWP
workers who are tasked with delivering Universal Credit (UC)
said:
Tory welfare policies are aimed at removing the social security
safety net. Poverty is built into the UC system with delays
of 6 weeks and often far beyond. It is unacceptable that our
members will have to deliver an untested and failing system to
some of the most vulnerable people in society.
The DWP is simply not ready to deliver the rollout of UC Full
Service in 50 Jobcentres per month
PCS has consistently raised issues of staffing levels and delays
in payments with DWP.
One of the tragedies of this situation is that public servants
determined to help people into work will have the rug pulled from
under their feet as claimants struggle to manage debt instead of
seeking employment
Mark Serwotka PCS General Secretary responding to Gauke stated –
“Universal Credit remains a disaster because it is driven
by the Tories’ political choice to cut public spending and to
denigrate people who rely on social security support.
The misery being inflicted by the government’s mishandling of
this disastrous programme must be stopped and the full roll-out
should be suspended immediately.
The government’s arrogant refusal to listen to its own staff,
experts, charities, those affected and even its own MPs shows
their aim is not to help people but to cynically cut support from
those who need it most.
A review of the entire project – from its impact on claimants to
systemic failings, IT problems and pressures on staff – is needed
before any decision is made as to whether it is fit to continue.
“Cuts to DWP staff and resources must be reversed to give the
department the means to develop a system that offers genuine
help.”
ENDS
Notes
Background Information
The Trussell Trust report that foodbank use has more than doubled
in areas where UC has already been rolled out.
used figures from June of this
year. This was when DWP were progressing with just a small number
of Jobcentres per month rolling out to UC Full Service. In July
2017 DWP increased the number of sites where UC Full Service was
introduced to 30. We believe, despite there being a built in
pause to the rollout, with no further Jobcentres being added in
August and September, that this has added significant pressure to
the system. Latest figures show that DWP is failing to hit its
target for answering calls to Universal Credit, with Full Service
regularly failing to answer almost 20 per cent of the calls it
receives.
