Injustice due to digitalisation of means tested welfare benefits

The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) is taking litigation in the UK related to the universal credit system administered by the UK Department for Work and Pensions. Universal credit is a monthly payment to help with living costs for those on a low income or out of work. This is now a largely digital and automated system. CPAG argue that the automation of the system has created new problems that have led to payments being delayed, amounts unfairly reduced or claimants not getting their full legal entitlement.

CPAG are working with their networks of welfare rights advisors and frontline organisations to support claimants on a number of cases related to the claims process and the awards/decisions process for the universal credit system.

In September 2022, a claimant supported by CPAG received a positive Upper Tribunal judgment in relation to the backdating of welfare claims. This is a representative case of issues resulting from the digitalisation and automatisation of the universal claims system in the UK. Due to problems with the electronic form, the claimant had not indicated they needed their welfare payments backdated, thus missing out on essential support. The Upper Tribunal ruled that claimants can make later revisions in order to access backdated claims. In 2024, the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal by the Secretary of State.