A CONTROVERSIAL aimed at overhauling the benefits system, and which has come in for criticism for payment delays, has taken “significantly longer to roll-out” and “may cost more” than the arrangement it replaces, a new report says.

In its findings, which have been published today, the National Audit Office (NAO) has concluded that universal credit “has not delivered value for money and it is uncertain that it ever will”.

Universal credit was brought into combine six benefits into one payment but has been plagued by problems and criticisms.

It was introduced across BH postcodes at the end of June 2015 ahead of a wider roll-out in the area last year.

The new system, and delays in its implementation, was blamed for a rise in demand for food bank support across Dorset in 2017.

Now, the roll-out of universal credit has been criticised by the NAO with criticism of its speed and cost with concerns about a “lack of sensitivity” shown to some claimants.

Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, said: “The department [the Department for Work and Pensions] has pushed ahead with universal credit in the face of a number of problems, but has shown a lack of regard in failing to understand the hardship faced by some claimants.

“The benefits that it set out to achieve through universal credit, such as increased employment and lower administration costs, are unlikely to be achieved, yet the department has little realistic alternative but to continue with the programme and hopefully learn from past mistakes.”

The report reveals that, last year, about one-quarter (113,000) of new claims were not paid in full, on time with an average delay of four weeks.

Emma Revie, the chief executive of The Trussell Trust, which runs food banks in Bournemouth, Kinson and Ringwood, said that more work needed to be done to improve the benefits system.

“No one should need to turn to a foodbank," she said. "Our benefits system was built to end hunger and destitution - universal credit can and must continue that legacy, but if it is to do so we need payments to cover the cost of essentials, more support in place for groups of people most likely to need a foodbank, and debt advice to be offered to everyone moving onto the new system.

“Foodbanks have seen firsthand the impact on people faced with the unavoidable side effect of increasing debt, right at the very moment when there is little or no money coming in at all: young families facing eviction, working parents skipping meals, and single men with insecure work struggling to afford the bus fare to work.

“We’re a country that prides itself on making sure proper support is in place for each other whenever help is most needed, whether that is through our health service or benefits system - what is clear from the NAO is that more must be done, and urgently, before universal credit can be seen as part of this tradition.”

A spokesman for the Department for Work and Pensions said: “Previous administrations poured billions into an outdated system with a complex myriad of benefits, which locked some people into cycles of welfare dependency.

“Whereas we are building a benefit system fit for the 21st century, providing flexible, person-centred support, with evidence showing universal credit claimants getting into work faster and staying in work longer.

“Universal credit is good value for money and is forecast to realise a return on investment of £34bn over ten years against a cost of £2bn, with 200,000 more people in work.

“Furthermore 83 per cent of claimants are satisfied with the service and the majority agree that it 'financially motivates' them to work.

“As the NAO acknowledges, we have made significant improvements to universal credit as part of our ‘listen and learn’ approach to its rollout, and it's on track to be in all jobcentres nationally by the end of 2018.”