The DWP have released a ‘Toolkit’ for organisations to help explain the upcoming train crash which is Universal Credit to people in receipt of benefits..
Universal Credit is the all encompassing change to the benefits system that Iain Duncan Smith scribbled down on the back of an envelope one night after watching an episode of Shameless. The new benefit is being trialled in a small area of Manchester and is threatened to be rolled out by October.
Far from being digital by default, it seems that currently Universal Credit is a telephone based service with claimants advised to report any changes in circumstances over the phone. Around 5 million people are set to be transferred to the new benefit and despite pleas from the DWP that Universal Credit is on target, it increasingly appears that the IT behind the project doesn’t work.
The toolkit also feature the new Universal Credit branding, which looks like something Iain Duncan Smith knocked up in Microsoft Word Art after his posh wife Betty let him have a go on her laptop.
Along with information on how the new benefit will affect claimants there is also a series of promotional youtube videos for the new benefit. These include a short film from Gary from Bolton, believed to be the only person ever to find a job through the bodged government spam site Universal Jobmatch. Gary describes the support offered by the Jobcentre as ‘truly great’ and ‘excellent’, a sentiment no doubt shared by all those who have been lucky enough to sign on at some point.
The DWP have requested feedback on the Universal Credit toolkit, so why not express your gratitude for the wonderful services they offer by emailing: uc.partnertoolkit@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
The Void
