Universal Credit ICT engine "30% complete"

The computer system needed as the basis for the introduction of  Universal Credit is "30%" complete, according to a timetable for the introduction of the system's introduction just published by the DWP.

The credit, set to replace existing benefits such as Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support and Housing Benefit, is still on target for a staggered introduction by from October next year (2013), covering 12m claimants by 2017, is being positioned by the Coalition as a radical simplification of the state welfare and benefits system.

"From October 2013 it will replace the current costly, outdated process with a digital system, which will be simpler to use and make work pay for hundreds of thousands of people across the UK," claimed Iain Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary.

"Today we have set out our migration plans which will see nearly 12 million working age benefit claimants migrate onto the new benefits system by 2017," he added.

The government says the new ICT-heavy system, will be much simpler for both staff and claimants to use and understand.

Its update says 30% of the new computer system is now in place and has been tested on claimants who are either single or in couples, with testing on family claimants about to start.

In practical terms, moving claimants from the old benefits to the new one will take place in three stages, spread over four years, a process that will cover new claims, natural changes and managed changes:

• From October 2013 to April 2014 about half a million new claimants will receive Universal Credit instead of Jobseeker's Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit
• At the same time, another half a million existing claimants and their families will be transferred to the new credit when their family circumstances change significantly, for instance if they get a job or have another child
• From April 2014 a further 3.5 million claimants and their families will move to Universal Credit

And from the end of 2015 to the end of 2017 a further 3m people will be moved over, focusing on Housing Benefit claimants.