Post by nickd on Jan 16, 2011 13:16:36 GMT 1
To those of you who may think that planned unification of the benefits system will lead to simplification, I'd say, think again!
Citizens Advice has produced a very good response:
Here's the link:
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work_and_pensions_committee__inquiry_into_the_universal_credit
The unification process will take light years to achieve, it only unifies a fairly limited numbers of benefits. To those who think it's some magical new benefit encompassing all existing ones into one, think again.
There are also problems arising over the apparent application of an upper capital limit to tax credits, this will (if implemented) cause many thousands to lose out on their entitlement. The tax credit system currently has no upper capital limit.
A massive problem the DWP and HMRC have is their software. Many claimants and advisers will have experienced problems over administrative delays, the authorities can't cope with what they've got. Before unification is imposed, millions (perhaps billions) will need to be invested or the system will become simply too unworkable; it will crash.
There will be huge problems for existing claimants who remain 'transitionally' entitled to the benefit they are already on. Major problems will arise over transferring these claims from one benefit to another. Whenever attempts are made to simply something, confusion often becomes the unwanted by-product of change.
Make no mistake about it, unification will not make problems go away. It will be crucial that people can access specialist help until such times as the system really does become 'simple'. The problems this will create will be of a kind which specialists are used to unravelling, the risk is Government will think we won't be needed.
Citizens Advice has produced a very good response:
Here's the link:
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work_and_pensions_committee__inquiry_into_the_universal_credit
The unification process will take light years to achieve, it only unifies a fairly limited numbers of benefits. To those who think it's some magical new benefit encompassing all existing ones into one, think again.
There are also problems arising over the apparent application of an upper capital limit to tax credits, this will (if implemented) cause many thousands to lose out on their entitlement. The tax credit system currently has no upper capital limit.
A massive problem the DWP and HMRC have is their software. Many claimants and advisers will have experienced problems over administrative delays, the authorities can't cope with what they've got. Before unification is imposed, millions (perhaps billions) will need to be invested or the system will become simply too unworkable; it will crash.
There will be huge problems for existing claimants who remain 'transitionally' entitled to the benefit they are already on. Major problems will arise over transferring these claims from one benefit to another. Whenever attempts are made to simply something, confusion often becomes the unwanted by-product of change.
Make no mistake about it, unification will not make problems go away. It will be crucial that people can access specialist help until such times as the system really does become 'simple'. The problems this will create will be of a kind which specialists are used to unravelling, the risk is Government will think we won't be needed.