Beneift claimants worried about Universal Credit

A survey carried out by local charity, Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau, shows that many people in Exeter will struggle to deal with universal credit without support. 

For most claimants, Universal Credit will eventually replace:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Budgeting loans - an advance payment of UC will replace these.

Figures from the Devon Strategic Partnership Welfare Reform Advisory Group in August 2013 suggest that 157,000 people living in Devon will be affected by Universal Credit

Half of respondents to the survey will struggle with the online application forms which are set to be a basic requirement under the new system. The entirely-online process will be especially hard for the 40% of survey respondents who do not have internet access at home. 

Of the charity’s clients who responded to the survey:

• 90% did not know that they will be expected to manage universal credit online
• 27% said they would need external help to complete a form online
• 80% did not know all payments will go into a single bank account
• 90% said they will struggle to budget

Exeter CAB supports the introduction of single universal benefit, but says that Ministers will need to address concerns raised that inconsistent support for childcare costs within the new benefit will mean that for many families, working extra hours will not lead to people being better off in work.

Steve Barriball, Chief Executive of Exeter CAB said: “Staff and volunteers at Exeter CAB will work tirelessly to help people manage the upheaval, but we need much clearer, stronger guidance from Government about how people moving onto the new system will be supported. 

“The research by Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau shows how risky it is to plough ahead with this huge new reform without taking the time to get the details right. 

“Half of survey respondents say they will struggle to complete forms online. We’ll be working closely with local Welfare Reform Action Group to deliver these changes safely, but we need Government to address the problems that our survey has highlighted.

“For universal credit to be the revolutionary reform ministers promised, we desperately need to know how people moving onto the new benefit are going to be supported.

“The idea of a single universal benefit is a good one but the poor, unclear delivery is a big risk to our clients’ wellbeing.  Many challenges remain in delivering this project safely, but with some small changes to how support is actually paid to recipients, ministers can help set people’s minds at rest.”