Universial Credit

You have probably looked at all these PP but this one gives a few answers too.

www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/blog/eight-questions-about-universal-credit

Thank you Gracesgran. I'll do some more research. I worked for DWP in all the benefits for 40 years and have never known anything so complex. At the same time as, like many organisations, you can't ask a question from a human.

You might just think it was designed to stop people claiming mightn't you PP

I know this isn't what you were asking for, pensionpat, but you might find some information in the links on this article.

rightsinfo.org/explainer-landmark-legal-challenge-universal-credit-system/

Thanks both. Gracesgran cynical moi?

Just read that link. There is a clue in the phrase "transitional protection will be given to those moving to UC from other benefits, providing their circumstances are unchanged" no mention of what circumstances. It could be after a sanction. I suspect sanctions will be plentiful. Otherwise people will cling on to the benefit they know, with fortnightly payment. I worked in an Unemployment benefit office when claimants were moved from weekly pay to fortnightly. There wS an uproar, although nothing in media. When people struggle from payday to payday it is distressing to double the wait. I'm not going to find out what I want to know until a customer tells me. Will keep on researching though.

David Gauke stated that there would be no reduction in benefit when moving on to benefit provided no change of circs. I am more concerned about the hardship, and use of Food Banks because of monthly pay.

That's what I thought, pensionpat. They still haven't got a clue what is happening.
It really annoys me when Tory ministers say that it's working okay in their constituencies; most of them have probably never been anywhere near a foodbank.

www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/index.php

Real people asking questions in this link. It looks quite useful.

This is awful.
Is this what we expect our NHS to have become, an adjunct of the DWP?

www.theguardian.com/healthcare-network/2018/feb/09/life-death-situation-why-gps-referring-patients-food-banks

"A “substantial minority” of long-term disability benefit claimants are being failed by an assessment system that is too often undermined by basic errors, insensitivity and ignorance about people’s conditions, MPs have said.

A report by the work and pensions select committee highlighted a person with Down’s syndrome asked when they “caught” it, a woman reporting frequent suicidal thoughts asked why she had not yet killed herself, and someone whose assessment said she walked a dog daily, when she can barely walk and does not own a dog."

DWP response?

"The DWP said it was “disappointing that this report uses a number of anonymous claims that we are unable to investigate”. A spokesperson said: “We’ve already commissioned five independent reviews of the work capability assessment – accepting over 100 of their recommendations – and two independent reviews of Pip assessments. Anyone needing extra support can request it, and if someone is unhappy with a decision, they can appeal."

Not saying that they are sorry that their assessors have been telling lies, just that they can't check up on the people who say so.

It makes me so angry.
More examples in this article.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/feb/09/disability-claimants-substantial-minority-failed-by-assessment-system-mps-committee

www.disabilitynewsservice.com/the-pip-files-data-shows-multiple-complaints-made-against-scores-of-atos-assessors/

www.disabilitynewsservice.com/the-pip-files-nearly-one-in-three-capita-assessments-were-flawed-reports-reveal/

The problems of outsourcing.

When I joined the Civil Service in 1975, the first thing I noticed was a Union poster saying "Stop the Cuts"- meaning cuts to civil servants. And since then, every change in law or initiatives has resulted in a cull of staff. Technology and outsourcing has enabled a speeding up of the process. And thousands of established, experienced staff have happily taken very generous redundancy/early retirement packages. I can't begin to imagine how much this all has cost. I imagine the same thing has been happening throughout the public sector.

The Demos think tank has produced a report in which it reveals that disabled claimants have been hit with over a million benefits sanctions since 2010. The majority of these have been against disabled people on JSA. Demos has calculated that disabled JSA claimants are up to 53% more likely to be sanctioned than JSA claimants who are not disabled.

Another sly cut. Could you cope with a cut of £395 a month?
I know I couldn't.

kittysjones.wordpress.com/2018/03/01/disability-income-guarantee-abolished-under-universal-credit-rules-a-sly-and-cruel-cut/

www.disabilitynewsservice.com/mystery-over-shock-fall-in-disability-benefits-paid-to-older-people/

It looks like we elderly people are not such a drain on government finances as they say we are.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/tories-finally-release-humiliating-secret-12148873