Universal Credit

(asked on 9th October 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what digital support will be available to universal credit claimants in maintaining their claim.


Answered by
Alok Sharma Portrait
Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
This question was answered on 15th October 2018

Currently, claimants who are in need of digital support can access this through Universal Support. Earlier this month, we announced a new partnership with Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland to deliver a new approach to Universal Support, initially up to March 2020. Our new partnership will ensure that all those who need to make a claim and need extra support can access it.

Additionally, jobcentres across the country have free Wi-Fi, and there are more than 8,000 computers available to support customers who need help with making and maintaining their claim digitally.

DWP work coaches are available to assist anyone who needs help with their claim and we also have a free phone helpline available for people cannot get online. Non-digital support is also available for vulnerable claimants, who cannot use the online service, through other channels such as telephony, face to face or through home visits to ensure they can maintain their claim. Our recently published Universal Credit Claimant Survey found that 98 per cent of claimants did claim online and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be easy.

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