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<p>We are unable to extract data for calls from claimants in Scotland from national
data.</p><p> </p><p>As of 24 April 2020 the Department has around 7.5 thousand full
time equivalent (FTE) staff taking calls from claimants in Great Britain, this includes
contracted supplier resource and DWP colleagues who also case manage claims. For week
commencing 20 April 2020 the combined average waiting time for all Universal Credit
service options on the national Freephone Universal Credit helpline was 22 minutes
and 58 seconds, for the Department’s supplier (Serco) who handle inbound calls for
new claims this was under one minute.</p><p> </p><p>People making new claims for Universal
Credit in fact no longer need to call the Department as part of the process and we
have communicated that widely. Once they have completed their online application we
will call them if we need to check any of the information they have given us. We have
also introduced new processes to ease pressure on waiting times for identity verification
over the phone and other processes.</p><p> </p><p>The Department’s priority is to
continue to ensure those who are entitled to benefit receive the support they need
at a time when new claims for Universal Credit are at an unprecedented level.</p>
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