UC next stage

The most interesting bit, I think, in the announcement is the completion timing.  Up to now the line has been that all migration will have been finished by 2017.  Now it’s ‘the majority’ so that 49.99999% could still be on the current systems into 2018 and beyond.

Don’t forget that the migration completion survey is still available.

To be honest, is that statement not just a political holding operation until after the next election? Even if the current PM is re-elected, will he continue with IDS as the Sec of State? Doubtful.

Actually its a race. How many years will the pensionable age be put back to / how many years will UC be delayed until “full implementation”.

I was reading somewhere that in 1909, pension age was equivalent to an age of 115 today.

It appears to my reading to paving the way for delayed implementation.

It summarises by advising (our current planning assumption is….)

It concludes with (final decisions….....)

All of which is now to be informed by ..... “the development of the enhanced digital solution.”

If the enhanced IT is delayed, the planning assumption will prove faulty, any final decision will be taken later….. and UC implementation put back.

They are now stressing that the roll out will be fully piloted and tested. etc.

If they are now saying no new claims for legacy benefits after some time in 2016, then we are currently around two years behind schedule; and even that carefully worded target appears to be very vulnerable to further slippage

They still seem desperately trying to hide the reality of their situation.  IDS has said that it’s 700,000 ESA claimants who will slip.  He hasn’t mentioned that those claimants may have rent to pay, children, working partners etc.  What happens to their HB, CTC etc?  They must carry on as well.

Re Gareth’s query I think we have an idea. There was the recent announcement that Housing Benefit will continue for pensioners until 2017/18, because of the introduction of the new pension. So HB survives beyond 2016 and if that survives then what else?

If the DWP was a football club, IDS has just received the dreaded vote of confidence!  No 10 has complete faith in his ability to deliver the UC project.

Article from the telegraph, link is as follows: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10505158/Iain-Duncan-Smith-says-Universal-Credit-on-budget-despite-millions-wasted.html

IDS insists Universal Credit will be “on time and on budget” but admits that the “plan is different from the original plan”. What planet is this man living on?

“The reality is that I believe that whatever I believe is reality.”