Citizens Advice has issued a response to the National Audit Office’s (NAO) report into Universal Credit.
Gillian Guy, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:
“It's no surprise that the NAO has confirmed Universal Credit still isn’t working for many people.
"While Universal Credit is working well for some, more than a quarter of a million people are expected to wait longer than 5 weeks for their first full payment. This puts them at risk of falling behind on bills and getting into debt - a heavy price to pay for a system that isn’t working properly.
“Since Universal Credit was first introduced, we have helped tens of thousands of people who have struggled with the new system. Many of those are finding it hard to make their claim, which can further hamper their chances of receiving their benefit on time.
“The government must take action to fix these unacceptable problems with Universal Credit, ensuring people are paid on time and that adequate support is in place. This is especially important as the pace of the rollout increases.”
View report: Rolling out Universal Credit