Roll out extension and larger families

The further roll out of Full Service announced today does not appear to confirm the extension of TC for families with 3 or more children until Nov 2018. Is that still on the cards?

Good question - I have seen at least one family with 3 children whose TCs have stopped and who have gone onto UC Full Service, I cant see what mechanism there is to stop that happening?

Yes it is and we were told at the stakeholder meeting that legislation will be issued imminently but it is obviously going to be separate from this commencement order.

Apparently the legislation will introduce a gateway condition from April 2017 for full service areas to stop larger families claiming UC and to reintroduce legacy benefits for them. However, families already on UC who have a new third (or more) child after April will stay on UC and not get money for the child. The claim will also be clerical as the IT system can’t deal with it (hence the push to tax credits for new claimants)

Thanks for this. What a complete mess. The exceptions to the April 2017 UC conception cap have just been announced. Why do they need a delay for new UC claims?

I guess this shines a light on the UC computer frailty. What has the failed IT cost to date?

Oh dear…

Thanks for the update, Daphne.  Will this rule also apply in thelive-service areas which accept claimants with children?

stevejohnsontrainer - 26 January 2017 06:11 PM

Thanks for this. What a complete mess. The exceptions to the April 2017 UC conception cap have just been announced. Why do they need a delay for new UC claims?

It is exactly as you say Steve - computer frailty - the IT system is not able to cope with not paying for children who are part of the family.

Jon - that’s an interesting point on the live service areas that take couples and families - I don’t honestly know the answer - I guess we’ll have to wait for the regs - I’m guessing they will all get pushed to tax credits but I could be wrong - it just gets more and more complicated!!