Universal Credit IT System Can't Yet Cope With Couples

The computer system used to run Universal Credit cannot cope with the “complicated” lives of thousands of benefits claimants, officials have admitted. Iain Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary, was forced to deny that the Coalition’s flagship welfare reform is a “debacle” despite officials conceding that the IT system was unable to cope with couples and families. In a heated session in front of the Commons’ work and pensions select committee, he defended the scheme, saying: “There is no debacle on Universal Credit.” He said that much of the criticism about the project’s financial failings had been “bogus nonsense”. Read more on the Daily Telegraph website.