ANNOUNCING £39m of funding for the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) to help Universal Credit claimants, Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey told the Conservative Party conference: “The State cannot, and should not work in isolation and must reach out to work with independent, trusted organisations to get the best support to vulnerable people.”
Yes it must, although it is interesting how the State picks and chooses when and how it wants to “reach out” in this way. CAB is one of many third sector victims of austerity, with funding cuts for local authorities taking their toll.
While the £39m is welcome, it is surely an admission of the critical failures afflicting the Universal Credit roll-out that it is needed.
The principle of Universal Credit is sound, but the cack-handedness of its implementation, including serious delays in initial payments, have pushed some families into poverty.
Paying £39m to an outside organisation to help people access a badly designed in-house system is not exactly an effective, or sustainable, use of public funds. It’s also a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted, given how many people have already suffered through the shoddy roll-out of the new benefit.
CAB chief executive Gillian Guy said the organisation has “seen first-hand what can happen when people struggle to make a claim” and will continue to share its evidence with the Government “to help make sure Universal Credit works for everyone”. It is crucial the Government listens, to avoid another shambles like this in future.
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