So far, much of the press around the introduction of Universal Credit (UC) has been far from positive. Just last week the National Audit Office said UC has not and may never deliver value for money. But UC has huge potential to transform people’s lives. So how can it be made a success?
Most of the problems that hit the headlines last autumn related to people losing their job, claiming UC and then having to wait at least six weeks before they received support. It’s worth considering why.
At the heart of the problem was the fact that UC assesses entitlement monthly, in arrears. However, almost half of people moving onto the scheme were previously paid weekly (barely a quarter were paid monthly.) The failure of UC to respond to individuals’ needs was a major cause of trouble.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
