DWP abuses the power they have over peoples’ Universal Credit journals

Caker wrote:The UC financial statement can be printed / saved as a pdf as soon as available. I would recommend keeping an eye on the UCj and as soon as that month's statement is available (a day or so before payment date) make a copy of it.

Z2K wrote:Something that I was shocked to learn, was that the DWP has retrospectively edited incorrect payments on some clients’ Universal Credit journals, causing confusion for our clients and caseworkers

cpag wrote:It’s a fundamental principle in a democracy that governmental bodies must have reasons for their decisions. It’s equally fundamental   - or should be  -  that they should be able to explain what those reasons are.  And if the explanation does not stack up, then, again on first principles, the decision should be open to review or appeal.  Yet, as this publication demonstrates, the Department for Work and Pensions is repeatedly falling down on every element of these public law obligations in its administration of universal credit…  People in need are left to guess at and grope for things, which should be clear and tangible. The consequences…feed into the stress and worry that so many people managing on low incomes experience, which in turn can affect family life for children growing up in these environments.

The report says UC helpline staff are often unable to explain how a claimant’s award has been worked out because they don’t have access to payment calculations which in the vast majority of cases are processed automatically on UC’s digital system.

Claimants’ online monthly payment statements give only basic information on how their award has been calculated so spotting errors – such as the omission of allowances for children – can be difficult or impossible for claimants (see case studies below).  And on housing costs, payment statements do not give an explanation when there is a discrepancy between the amount of rent allowed for in a UC calculation and the amount of rent actually due – often the discrepancy is because payments for rent within UC are capped by Local Housing Allowances or by the bedroom tax, but their payment statements leave claimants none the wiser1.