Universal Credit errors are pushing people in to debt, charity warns

One in five of the 1,110 Universal Credit claims seen by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) contained an administrative error.

The Sun launched its Make Universal Credit Work campaign last year to demand urgent action from the Government to help working families let down by the shambolic rollout of the new benefits system.

CPAG chief executive, Alison Garnham, wants the Government to make Universal Credit calculations clearer.

She said: “Transparency should be a the heart of a fair social security system but our research shows Universal Credit claimants do not always understand the amounts they’re getting so it’s harder for them to pick up on mistakes or to predict how their awards might change.

"And because Universal Credit is an all-in-one benefit, with all your eggs in one basket, when things go wrong for claimants the financial fallout can be dire."

Lord justice of appeal, Sir Stephen Sedley ,added: "It’s a fundamental principle in a democracy that governmental bodies must have reasons for their decisions.

"It’s equally fundamental - or should be - that they should be able to explain what those reasons are."

The charity also believes the Government is giving claimants incorrect information on the appeals process.

Here's how to appeal a Universal Credit decision if your payments are stopped or you’ve been sanctioned.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “More than 1.8million claimants receive a monthly statement advising them of their entitlement, how it has been calculated and what to do if they think the payment is incorrect.

“Help is also available from work coaches, the freephone Universal Credit helpline, gov.uk and through our ‘Help to Claim’ partnership with Citizens Advice.”

If you want to know the basics, here's what Universal Credit is, who’s eligible to claim it, and how the benefits system has changed.

Sadly, the research by CPAG comes as food bank usage hits record high with Universal Credit to blame.

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