Today, the National Audit Office (NAO) published a damning review of Universal Credit. It criticises the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for pressing on with the roll-out of Universal Credit, despite little evidence of its ability to get more people into work or achieve value for money for the taxpayer. Meanwhile it causes extreme hardship for claimants resulting in increased foodbank use and escalating rent arrears, where the benefit has been introduced.  

The DWP describes its approach to the roll-out of Universal Credit as a process of testing and learning.  It has to be asked however, in any measure of a civilised society, how can it be acceptable for the testing to come at the expense of vulnerable people being forced into destitution and eviction? The government must put the roll-out of Universal Credit on hold until all of the systemic flaws have been removed.

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