27 November 2013
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has updated its welfare reform communications toolkit.
The toolkit helps explain why and how DWP is changing the welfare system and includes detailed information about both Universal Credits and automatic enrolment, both of which you may find useful when dealing with employee enquiries.
The welfare reform communications toolkit is available on GOV.UK .
Universal Credit progress
6 December 2013
The next stage of delivery of Universal Credit will concentrate on the continued safe and secure roll out of the vital reform.
The new benefit, which brings together 6 benefits and tax credits into 1, and ensures that work pays, has been progressively rolling out since April, when it began in the Greater Manchester area. As announced in July, the department has been working in conjunction with the Government Digital Service to explore an enhanced IT system for Universal Credit that uses the latest in technological advances. Ministers have confirmed that this system has proved viable and the department will further develop this work with a view to rolling it out once testing is complete. While this work is undertaken, Universal Credit will continue to expand. It is now live in 7 areas across the country, growing to 10 by spring 2014. From there, the roll out will expand beyond the existing single claimant group, to new claims from couples and families in all of these areas. By the end of next year, Universal Credit will start also to expand to cover more of the north-west. Universal Credit will therefore expand in scope and scale over the next 2 years. Pressing ahead with the existing system while the enhanced IT is being developed will allow for greater understanding of how individuals in different circumstances interact with Universal Credit. It also allows higher volumes of people to benefit from the better work incentives that come with the new benefit. Importantly, this approach will still allow the Universal Credit programme to roll out within the original budget.
Read the full press release from The Department for Work and Pensions .
CIPP Policy News Journal
16/04/2014, Page 519 of 519
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