FRESH concerns about the impact of Universal Credit changes have been raised by MSPs – on the same day the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) launched a “myth-busting” ad campaign in defence of the system.
It is not known how much the UK Government department paid for the “Universal Credit Uncovered” campaign, which is styled in a form common to newspaper investigations and ran yesterday on six pages of the daily Metro, as well as on the title’s website.
However, a four-page “wraparound” in the popular freesheet, which is aimed at city-dwellers and those on higher incomes, costs around £250,000.
The nine-week campaign, which includes interviews with claimants and Universal Credit work coaches, came as the UK Government’s work and welfare policies were strongly criticised in a UN report.
Labour MP Marsha de Cordova, the party’s shadow minister for disabled people, branded the adverts – which slam supposedly incorrect reports about Universal Credit – “truly Orwellian”.
She said: “On the same day that the UN envoy on extreme poverty slams Tory policies that have led to the ‘systematic immiseration of a significant part of the British population’, the DWP has taken out covert ads in a national newspaper promoting Universal Credit. Truly Orwellian.”
On news coverage of Universal Credit – which includes detailed reporting on analysis by charities, MPs and now the UN which outlines the role this social security change has had in driving up foodbank use and poverty – the DWP ad says that “sadly” not all accounts have been “correct”.
Pledging to cover “the real stories from the front line of Universal Credit”, it continues: “Universal Credit is designed to reflect the time we live in now – increasing numbers of people want to work flexible hours in order to fit around family life and commitments.
“Universal Credit works for those people in a way the old system couldn’t. We now have a system that really works to support you back into work, every step of the way.”
Matthew Greer of charity Turn2Us labelled the move “embarrassing”, and critics posting on social media branded the material “propaganda”.
It emerged as Bob Doris, chair of Holyrood’s Social Security Committee, wrote to Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd over the removal of the “protected date of claim guarantee”, which previously allowed councils and Citizens Advice Scotland to backdate new claims for Universal Credit to the start of the applications process.
The change in the Help To Claim contract will mean the end of the process is what will be used as a basis for payments, and only those who attend a jobcentre will retain the protection – even though many local jobcentres have been closed in a recent cash-saving programme.
Doris, who represents Maryhill and Springburn, says this is a “retrograde step” and that it is estimated 200 people will “suffer financially” each month in Glasgow alone. Representing the committee, Doris has now called for a review, telling Rudd: “This is deeply alarming.”
Doris wrote: “There can be many reasons why someone may not be in a position to submit a completed claim on the first day of entitlement. It may not be possible to get to a jobcentre, particularly given recent closures.”
He continued: “The committee finds it unacceptable that claimants are now being disadvantaged in this way and calls on you to undertake an urgent review.”
The DWP said online and freephone help is available, stating: “With Universal Credit, people receive support to make their claim on day one, meaning they are entitled to cash on their first day.
“This can all be done without needing to go into a jobcentre.”
On the DWP’s controversial ad campaign, the government said informing the public about benefits is “important”, adding: “We regularly advertise Universal Credit and we work closely with stakeholders to help them best advise claimants.
“All our advertising abides by the strict guidelines set by the Advertising Standards Authority.”
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