To wonder if there is a Universal Credit tsunami round the corner?

[ArsenicSoup]

I'm sure it was announced at Tory conference that the switch-over was being brought forward to February.

Now I can't find reference to it anywhere. Which is odd. Have they quietly dropped the idea? Or are they scarambling to be (half) ready in time?

The local CAB are advertising for volunteer advisers. I qualified nearly ten years ago while a SAHM and worked paid and unpaid in that area for a while. Work is slow (generally, so I have some spare time) and I can't sleep (tonight) and it's annoying me - are the CAB gearing up for chaos? Do they need the help? Is the coalition really going to push this through?

I haven't read anything that suggests existing benefit claimants are going to be moving to UC imminently.

The various things I've read are NEW single claimants. turn to us timetable linked to up thread

Existing claimants will in the main be transferred in 2016 - 2017 when other benefit new applications will stop. Some will be after that.

Its always worth having a bit of savings because whether your money is salary, benefits or as in most cases a mix of the two. It all goes a bit wrong sometimes, but savings are a luxury not available to all.

I'm hoping that the timetable will stretch as the system rolls out to minimise the number of people who have to deal with the inevitable new system gremlins.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-at-work

Published 22nd October - seems an up to date take document on what they're planning.

My understanding is that it will only be people who would have been applying for Job Seekers Allowance, to start with and that this is rolling out everywhere from February next year. They'll move over people who are claiming other benefits later (2016-2017).

It looks like there's some provision/consideration of paying childcare upfront in this document, which is something. And that they'll guarantee Landlords will be paid if people get into rent arrears (and then deduct it from universal credit payments later)...

If they do try to implement it, we should do a Food Bank drive on MN.

Good idea Pausing

I find this really interesting.

I started a thread a couple of weeks ago about a drive locally for vacancies working in tc and benefits.
My ds1 told me about himself and several other colleagues who were applying the jobs.
I presumed they might be employed as inspectors but in hindsight, our area were also part of the trial rollout but this started 6 months later than announced.

Pound to a penny the IT will fail miserably and it will be an utter disaster.

amother

I knew somebody who worked on the IT for the trial she said several people left and it was total chaos that's why they were late.

Universal credit is already in my area - as a result of my job I see people every day who are already being affected - a family member is also a claimant and is struggling
The queues at all our local CAB offices are growing ever longer.
Don't get me started on how this will affect the sick and disabled who are my main client group.............

www.rightsnet.org.uk/forums/viewthread/7369/

Lists what authorities will be bringing it in between Feb 2015 and April 15.

Ashford, Barnsley, Basildon, Bassetlaw, Bedford, Birmingham, Boston, Brecklands, Brentwood, Calderdale, Chesterfield, City of Edinburgh, Colchester, Corby, Craven, Darlington, Daventry, Dudley, Dumfries & Galloway, Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Staffordshire, Erewash, Forrest Heath, Hambleton, Harborough, Hartlepool, Hasting & Rother, Hereford, Hinckley & Bosworth, Litchfield, London Borough of Barnet, London Borough of Brent, London Borough of Hounslow, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London Borough of Wandsworth, Maidstone, Melton, Mendip, Mid Lothian, Neath Port Talbot, Newcastle, Newcastle-under-Lyme, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, North Somerset, Oxford City, Redditch, Ryedale, Scottish Borders, Sedgemoor, Shropshire, South Kelveston, South Oxfordshire, South Somerset, Southampton, Southend, Stratford, Suffolk Coastal, Swale, Swindon, Tamworth, Taunton Dean, Tendering, Thurrock, Torfaen, Vale of White Horse, Waveney, West Oxfordshire, West Somerset, Wiltshire, Wrexham and York.

So in theory, these are the places that will be affected before it gets ditched (god willing) after the General Election right? Hopefully just the single claiments claiming JSA only...(not that I'd wish this on anyone)

Its suggested that by April 1, 0.1 million people will be on Universal Credit thats 0.1 Million of the approaching 8 million who will ultimately be affected.

Fantastic Js. Thanks for that.

So, by the looks of it, they are forging ahead, affecting as few as possible BUT enough to declare it a success for the election run up?

'Fantastic' information, not 'fantastic' rollout. Obviously

Is that list for new claimants or existing ones?

Best place for info on this is twitter. Just search #UniversalCredit.

I work for one of those authorities and it's news to me.
AFAIK UC claims are singles and couples with no kids claiming JSA only. Not sure it's even including housing benefit.

Given that the IT project had to be restarted just a few months back, I really don't see how a mass roll out is possible.
I spoke to a job centre in the north west last month and claims are manual I believe.

Phew!
Thank you. This UC crap scares the bejesus out of me.

Can someone please explain it like I'm five?

I am confused about what these changes mean for people?

As I understand it, it means people who usually get benefits due to perhaps sickness or an inability to work for maybe MH reasons will now be treated as though they are job seekers?

Or is there more to it than that?

claims are manual I believe.

Oh this will go well then.

They'll have to continue to delay and delay and delay won't they?

What a way to run a country.

Archangel

That's because up in the NW we have only just got electric to charge our computers.

Claw I think the reasonable summary is that the g'ovt have announced that they are bringing UC forwards to Feb for everyone BUT already they are (quietly) rowing back from that, the computing system isn't ready etc.

They have announced a list of areas that they say WILL go over to the new scheme in the Spring (Feb-April) but even that looks dubious.

AND if there is a change of government in May, the whole thing will probably be scrapped anyway. (Maybe even if there isn't)

Does everyone think that sounds about right?

As I understand it, it means people who usually get benefits due to perhaps sickness or an inability to work for maybe MH reasons will now be treated as though they are job seekers?

Bit more to it than that. They are tring to merge many different benefits together and slightly reduce them. Tax Credits, JSA, ESA, Housing Benefit and others are all being replaced by a single UC payment.

E.g. 'Conditionality' (like current jobseekers conditions) will be placed on PT workers receiving top ups (what is currently tax credits, HB etc). So they might be required to find more hours or more pay...

The current confusion is about WHEN this is happening.

Oh right! Thanks Soup. Do people think there WILL be a big change in government then?

Sorry multitasking - re people with disabilities not required to work, hopefully someone better qualified will comment but so far I think the idea is that things on that front won't change too much.

Re the g'ovt, who knows? I'm sure plenty of people have strong opinions