Chair “dismayed” at evidence on ‘natural' migration
5 March 2019
Following the first evidence session on ‘natural' migration to Universal Credit, Committee Chair Frank Field has written to DWP describing his “dismay” at what the Committee heard.
- Watch Parliament TV: Universal Credit - Natural Migration
- Inquiry: Universal Credit - Natural Migration
- Work and Pensions Committee
- Letter from Frank Field to Amber Rudd regarding Universal Credit Natural Migration - dated 27 February 2019
Chair's Comment
Committee Chair, Frank Field MP, said:
“Our witnesses gave us stark evidence about the substantial financial losses that some legacy benefit claimants face when they experience a change in circumstance and move to Universal Credit through ‘natural' migration”
- which does not carry with it the “transitional protection” of some extra funds, as in “managed” migration –
“I am writing to you urgently, however, about extremely worrying evidence that some Jobcentres have been moving claimants to Universal Credit even when their circumstances have not changed. This seems to be happening without consideration of whether the move will leave claimants worse off over all. It is not at all clear to us, nor to the organisations who gave us evidence, why this is happening.”
The Committee will follow up on this and other issues raised in the session last week Committee investigates “winners and losers” under move to Universal Credit in its next evidence hearing on Universal Credit and 'natural migration'.
Witnesses
Wednesday 6 March 2019, Committee Room 8, Palace of Westminster
At 9.30am
- Laura Dewar, Policy Officer, Gingerbread
- Ayaz Manji, Senior Policy and Campaigns Officer, Mind
- Maeve McGoldrick, Head of Policy and Campaigns, Crisis
- Anastasia Berry, Policy Manager, MS Society
- Dr. Phil Agulnik, Director, Entitledto
- Sam Hall, Assistant Secretary, Public and Commercial Services Union, DWP Group Executive
Further information
Image: Parliamentary Copyright