| answer text |
<p><strong> </strong></p><p>We work closely with The Trussell Trust and welcome their
feedback. It is worth noting that much of their analysis was carried out before the
improvements we announced at Autumn Budget 2017, and which were introduced earlier
this year. The comprehensive and wide-ranging package worth £1.5 billion to help people
in their first assessment period included, the abolition of waiting days, the introduction
of advances up to 100% of a claimant’s indicative award (repayable over a period of
up to 12 months), and a two week transitional payment for those previously claiming
Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>The Trust welcomed our changes in the Budget saying
they would “ease the pressure on thousands of households on very low incomes” and
“shows that Government is listening”.</p><p> </p><p>Earlier this month, we announced
a new partnership with Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland to deliver Universal
Support. We want to make sure that the most vulnerable people get the best possible
support when claiming Universal Credit. Citizens Advice will help deliver a high-quality
and consistent service to people claiming Universal Credit, to assist them manage
their claim, get paid on time and budget effectively. This was welcomed by the Trussell
Trust.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the managed migration regulations which will come
before Parliament in the autumn, we have proposed transitional protection for the
500,000 individuals currently receiving the Severe Disability Premium. It should also
be noted that in the legacy benefits system there are £2.4bn of unclaimed benefits
not taken up by people who need them, because they do not know about them. These regulations
will ensure that 700,000 more households will get paid their full entitlement under
Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>We do not underestimate the challenge that managed
migration represents and we are working closely with stakeholders to design the best
solution. Our focus will be on safeguarding claimants and ensuring a smooth transition
with uninterrupted support. The draft regulations have been out for consultation with
the Social Security Advisory Committee and will be subject to scrutiny and approval
by Parliament. During 2019 we will test and refine our processes on a small scale
to ensure they are working well before we take on larger volumes from 2020 onwards,
and complete the process in 2023.</p>
|
|
