The new Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has said that even though the managed migration process from legacy benefits to Universal Credit has been delayed until 2027-28, claimants will automatically trigger a move if they report a change in their circumstances.
Mel Stride told the Work and Pensions Committee on Wednesday that supporting the most vulnerable is a “key focus” for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). He told the cross-party panel of MPs that his department’s three main objectives are helping the most vulnerable, getting people back into work and cracking down on benefits fraud.
But he was challenged by MPs who suggested the UK Government is taking money from those with the least by delaying moving some legacy claimants on to the new system, through sanctions, and by recovering overpayments.