Universal Credit
We are challenging policymakers to make sure Universal Credit (UC) enables people to live a life of dignity.
Many of the people we support either face emotional or financial hardship as a result of being on Universal Credit (UC), or are at risk of adverse effects if they move onto it.
UC’s inadequacies are only going to become more pressing as those on legacy benefits continue to be pushed onto UC. Many of these people will lose out financially and face harm as a result of the inadequate UC system.
It is for this reason, that we are calling for a series of fundamental reforms to the design and delivery of UC, outlined in our ‘Blunt, bureaucratic and broken: how Universal Credit is failing people in vulnerable situations’ report. Until these reforms are implemented, a genuine pause to managed and natural migration should take place. This is particularly important for those in the Employment and Support Allowance Support Group, who would arguably suffer the most if pushed onto UC as it stands.
In the meantime, people should be able to choose whether they want to stay on legacy benefits or move onto UC and DWP should ensure transitional protection for everyone moving from legacy benefits to UC.
Blunt, bureaucratic and broken: how Universal Credit is failing people in vulnerable situations
Download report (4.3MB pdf)