By Richard Johnstone | 19 February 2014
More than 3,600 people are now receiving the government’s Universal Credit benefit, the Department for Work and Pensions has said, ahead of the reform being expanded into two new areas later this month.
Publishing an update on the controversial scheme, which will merge six existing benefits into one payment, welfare reform minister Lord Freud said that there was now a ‘steady rollout’ underway across the country. Implementation of the flagship scheme has been criticised by both the National Audit Office and Public Accounts Committee in recent months. In addition, the DWP has written off more than £40m of computing systems following problems that led to the deadline for implementation to be pushed back.
However, Freud said that the fact 3,610 people were receiving the benefit up to November 30 showed the reform was underway.
‘Universal Credit will stay with these claimants as they move into jobs and is designed to make work pay,’ he said.
‘Employment is growing to record levels as a part of the government’s long-term economic plan, and employers are telling me that Universal Credit will help them to grow and know that staff will no longer face benefit barriers for putting in extra hours.’
He confirmed the benefit, which is currently only available to single jobseekers in seven areas of the country, would also be extended to Bath and Harrogate from February 24.
However, Labour’s shadow work and pensions secretary Rachel Reeves said there were serious questions about whether the government has the capability to deliver Universal Credit.
‘David Cameron and Iain Duncan Smith promised Universal Credit would be “on time and on budget”, yet millions have been squandered and the project has suffered endless delays.
‘Francis Maude, Tory minister for the Cabinet Office, has called the roll out of Universal Credit “lamentable”. It’s time for ministers finally to get a grip of their flagship welfare reform and end the waste and delays which are costing taxpayers millions.’
