More delay, more cost, more embarrassment for Duncan Smith over Universal Credit

Last Updated: February 3, 2016By
IBelieve-IDS

Iain Duncan Smith faces an eloquent comment on his effectiveness.

Let’s just reiterate the fact the Universal Credit was originally predicted to cost £2.2 billion in administration costs, and that figure has now risen to £15.8 billion – more than seven times the original estimate.

A DWP spokesperson is quoted in the Guardian article as saying Universal Credit is on schedule. That is a lie. The original plan was for it to be rolled out nationally in October 2013 for new claimants, with full implementation by 2017. Now the public accounts committee has revealed it will not be fully implemented until 2021 – a delay of four years from the predicted date – and eight years after its initial – botched – introduction.

With the DWP predicting a financial benefit of £6.7 billion per year (for whom?), we can see that it will have a lot of catching-up to do, when it finally arrives… if it finally arrives. Also, it will need to recoup the massive overspend on its development.

Will it ever achieve the financial benefit predicted for it? Doubtful.

It is more likely to be replaced before it is fully implemented.

What a waste of public time and money – but then, that’s all we should expect of Iain ‘Blank Cheque’ Smith and his DWP.

MPs have accused the Department for Work and Pensions of using “evasive” measures to prevent parliament from finding out why there have been yet more delays to the universal credit scheme.

The government’s flagship welfare programme will not be implemented before the autumn of 2021, four years after its completion date, a report by the committee has disclosed.

But Iain Duncan Smith’s department has been accused of blocking MPs as they tried to discover the cause of the delays, how many people they will affect, and how long they will persist.

Meg Hillier, chair of the public accounts committee (PAC), condemned the department for evading MPs’ queries. “The lack of transparency surrounding a programme with such wide-reaching implications for so many people is completely unacceptable,” he said.

Source: DWP being evasive over universal credit delays, MPs claim | Politics | The Guardian

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No Comments

  1. WLeon February 3, 2016 at 1:20 pm - Reply

    Every single day it seems that Ian Duncan Smith is a ‘law unto himself’. And that he ccan waste vast amounts of public money whilst denying some of his own people the same money they so desperately need. But sooner or later he will come crashing to the ground with a bang.

  2. jeffrey davies February 3, 2016 at 1:34 pm - Reply

    shamefull that this person is allowed to carry on had a failed misrably mp

  3. Florence February 3, 2016 at 1:58 pm - Reply

    It is obvious that the “cost benefits” of UC were made up of cuts to the benefits paid. Early on, many pointed to the inconsistency of UC “saving money” when it rolled many benefits into one, where there was substantial evidence of people not claiming the full benefits they were entitled to amounting to £billions.

    We now see the UC does in fact slashes many benefits, e.g, no ESA equivalent, or Severe Disability Allowance, or the the WTC / CTC replacement leaving families up to £3Kpa worse off, and that current passported benefits simply disappear, also happening through PIP too.

    The fact that UC is probably never going to work is confirmed by Osborne trying to introduce the equivalent cuts in the current benefits, being fought in the Lords. Will we see UC rolled out? I think they will take it to the bitter end, and it will be so fraught with error and problems that many will be effectively denied all benefits, waiting for the DWP to make payment at all, because the IT won’t work – it will be a largely manual system. Those who do manage to make a claim will be harassed off benefits through conditionality. I hear the UN is considering another investigation into the targeting of “austerity” on to the poorest and most vulnerable. Can we afford to wait that long?

    • Jackie Cairns February 3, 2016 at 4:49 pm - Reply

      The simple answer to that is no. I have just claimed for the 1st time and god , Im having a mental break down already. no wonder there is more people claiming ESA they harass you that much.

  4. Dez February 3, 2016 at 2:27 pm - Reply

    So much for the Camoron pledge to bring transparency to the front line…..cover ups, lies,deaths, even MPs being blanked…..welcome to the Nazi state.

  5. casalealex February 3, 2016 at 3:50 pm - Reply

    IDS is a delusionist – someone who is a master of their own delusions to the point where they exist in the dual planes of true and false realities, often exhibiting extreme mood swings resulting from the conflicts of planar coexistence and living in an impenetrable state of constant denial.

    Iain Duncan Smith accused of hiding bad news on universal credit after damning report is hushed up http://www.independent.co.uk 10 July 2014

    A freedom of information tribunal has ruled that the Department for Work and Pensions should disclose four internal documents on the Universal Credit programme.

    No way could anyone be accused of IDS bashing. This megalomaniac brings it on himself, when he blatantly laughs in our faces, as he wastes millions of taxpayers’ pounds on his catastrophically ill-conceived and diabolical policies.

    His name will go down in the annals of infamy!

  6. Mr.Angry February 3, 2016 at 4:02 pm - Reply

    Public disgrace and shrouded in secrecy cock up after cock up whilst people become impoverished, suicides and related deaths, IDS is worse than the nazi’s. The sooner he is brought to account the better for nation.

    Why oh Why isn’t the media giving this front page coverage? Another scandal.

  7. Terry Davies February 3, 2016 at 4:51 pm - Reply

    I believe that UC is structured in a manner which contravenes all applicants’ human rights. All are required to enter personal details including financial and banking details even should they not want to do so.
    this leaves them vulnerable to ID scams at the very least and increased chances of theft and fraud.

  8. Workfare Slave February 3, 2016 at 8:51 pm - Reply

    Smith’s incompetence knows no bounds. 16 Billion quid down the drain and the clown’s still got his job? Unbelievable.

  9. Kane February 3, 2016 at 11:44 pm - Reply

    I so wish this odious little man would just crawl up and die!!!

  10. mrmarcpc February 4, 2016 at 2:24 pm - Reply

    Nothing will change, he’ll arrogantly press ahead with it!

  11. Rik February 5, 2016 at 5:03 pm - Reply

    Disgusting!!
    How many homes would £16 billion build?

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