IES response to Amber Rudd's universal credit speech, 11 January 2019

Press Releases

11 Jan 2019

Tony Wilson, director of the Institute for Employment Studies (IES), responds to Amber Rudd’s speech on universal credit, 11 January 2019.

‘Today’s reset on universal credit is welcome news. Universal credit remains a good idea in principle but in practice it is not working as it should.

‘Half of universal credit claimants are in debt or housing arrears and just one third find it easier to claim than the benefits that it has replaced. Giving claimants the option of being paid fortnightly instead of monthly, as happens in Scotland, will be a big improvement.

‘The changes to the two-child limit are also welcome, but the Spending Review needs to go further than this and look more fundamentally at the adequacy of the system, particularly for low-income families.’

ENDS

Interviews and further comment

Tony Wilson, director of the Institute for Employment Studies, is available for comment.

Please contact Mark Jack, IES communications officer:

Telephone: 01273 763 435

Email: mark.jack@employment-studies.co.uk