Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions, what plans his Department has to ensure that universal credit
claimants have access to IT facilities and IT skills training in order to
comply with his Department's claimant commitment.
Damian Hinds:
Work Coaches assess claimants’ digital capability at their initial work search
interview and, where help is needed, they can refer claimants for
Assisted Digital and Digital Inclusion Support. These services are offered as
part of the Universal Support package which provides additional assistance to
build claimants’ confidence and competence with IT, enabling them to manage
their Universal Credit account online, as well as accessing on-line job search
facilities and training to comply with their Claimant Commitment. Our research
shows that, in June 2016, 99.7 per cent of submissions of information to
support claims and 90.0 per cent of reported changes of circumstances were completed by claimants
using the UC full service online system. All jobcentres across the country have
Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. Claimants
who are unable to manage their claim online can receive telephone and face to
face support.
