Nearly half a million apply for Universal Credit in nine days

As almost half a million people rushed to apply for Universal Credit over the last nine days, the Department for Work and Pensions has redeployed thousands of staff to help go through the claims.

As almost half a million people rushed to apply for Universal Credit over the last nine days, the Department for Work and Pensions has redeployed thousands of staff to help go through the claims.

Tonight, officials have claimed the system is “standing up to the challenge” and that they’re taking “urgent action to boost capacity”. But will people making claims have to wait weeks for the cash they desperately need?

The Commons work and pensions committee heard. The work and pensions secretary,Thérèse Coffey,told the committee that extra money had been directed to an online verification programme, while staff would also be making outbound calls to verify people’s claims.

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