Four In 10 Claimants Doubt Simplicity of Universal Credit

Four in ten universal credit claimants do not think the policy makes it easier to understand how to claim benefits, a government-commissioned study has said. The survey published by the DWP could damage ministers’ assertions that universal credit makes it simpler to claim welfare payments than under the old system. The study polled 478 universal credit claimants on whether the policy makes it ‘easier to understand what you are required to do’ when claiming benefits compared to jobseeker’s allowance (JSA).A total of 39% of respondents, who all formerly claimed JSA, said they either disagreed (22%), were neutral (14%) or did not know (3%). Sixty one per cent agreed. Download a copy of the survey from the DWP website.