The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions David Gauke has today announced DWP customer telephone lines will be changed to Freephone numbers.
This announcement was made today while the debate on Universal Credit is proceeding in the Commons. You can watch the proceedings here.
Universal Credit customer telephone lines will be the first to become Freephone in November.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions David Gauke said: “We know that many people prefer to use online services and the vast majority of claims to Universal Credit are made online.
“Everyone can check their statement and engage with their work coach through their online account and we have free wifi and computers in all our jobcentres.
“Our work coaches support anyone who needs extra help with their online account but we want to make the process as burden free as possible, including for people who use our telephone service. That’s why we are making all our customer phone lines free to use.”
The department will inform customers and partners of new Freephone numbers in advance of these changes.
Freephone numbers will be rolled out to all remaining DWP customer phone services by the end of the year. Further details will be released in due course.
Universal Credit
The Government says most claims to Universal Credit full service are made online (99%).
Applications for Universal Credit are made online and claimants then arrange their first appointment with their work coach over the phone. Currently this call is charged at local rates which are set by providers and are free for many people as part of their call package. If someone is concerned about the cost, they can request a free call back.
Universal Credit claimants can update any changes in circumstances, check on their payments and rearrange appointments 24 hours a day through their online journal.
Scottish politicians call for halt
Liberal Democrat Scottish spokesperson Christine Jardine MP has today called for a pause in the roll out of Universal Credit.
The Edinburgh West MP also called on Scottish Conservative MP’s not to push a million children into poverty.
In the commons debate Ms Jardine said: “This poorly thought out policy has created a slow motion car crash. People who are waiting for payments are at risk of losing their home and in risk of being put in serious debt that they will struggle to get out of.
“Reports have shown that universal credit will push a million children into poverty by 2020. This surely cannot be the legacy that the Conservatives want to leave for future generations. I would urge the new group of Scottish Conservative MP’s to vote against their Government and make a stand on such a crucial issue.
“The minimum six week wait for peoples initial payments is not acceptable, and this shows the emptiness of Government claims that it’s building a country that works for everyone.”
Meanwhile it appears that the Conservatives will abstain from the vote.The Liberal Democrats have accused the Conservatives of “contempt for Parliament,” following reports the government has ordered its MPs to abstain on the motion on Universal Credit today.
Liberal Democrat Chief Whip Alistair Carmichael last week secured an emergency debate in the Commons over whether the government is abusing parliamentary process by ignoring opposition day motions.
Alistair Carmichael MP commented: “This is another outrageous attempt to subvert our democracy and undermine Parliament’s ability to hold the government to account.
“The Conservatives should remember that contempt for Parliament is contempt for the people that elect it.
“To simply ignore today’s debate would be an insult to the millions of voters deeply worried about the disastrous roll-out of Universal Credit.
“It is a sign of just how weak and divided this government has become that it is reduced to using every trick in the book to avoid scrutiny and debate.”
Chris Stephens MP commented: ‘’The Tories have finally realised the telephone tax is completely indefensible. In spring this year I secured a ten minute rule Bill in parliament to debate this topic – but since then the roll out has hit thousands of people and left many facing real financial hardship.
‘’The Tories cannot claim it as any kind of victory as it is only putting right something that was completely wrong. For people already facing real financial hardship because of the shameful UC policy to have to pay for a premium phone service was never acceptable.
‘’The Tories say Universal Credit is their flagship welfare policy. It has been nothing short of a disaster – and for those it has failed so far in any pilot area – it has been a personal catastrophe.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
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