Fixing Universal Credit

Why we need to fix Universal Credit: summary [ 86 kb]

Delivering on Universal Credit: full report [ 0.73 mb]

Universal Credit is the biggest change ever made to the benefits system. By 2022, more than 7 million households will be receiving it, over half of whom will be in work.

The aim of Universal Credit - to simplify the benefit system - is right. But it is currently failing too many people and forcing many into debt.

Universal Credit is currently being rolled out across the country, but this process is set to accelerate from October 2017. Citizens Advice has already helped 47,000 people with Universal Credit and our evidence reveals a number of problems which need to be addressed. If roll-out is not paused to allow this to happen, 7 million households face financial risk.