Tories reported for ‘misleading’ UC ads claims
THE Tory Government has been reported to the advertising watchdog for “deeply misleading” claims about Universal Credit.
A radio ad boasts the six-in-one benefit “changes automatically” if your wages change, “giving you one less thing to worry about”.
But Labour MP Neil Coyle, on the Work and Pensions Committee, claims this is “simply untrue”.
He said struggling families must update online journals and thousands have reported glitches in the way UC calculates wages.
Mr Coyle added employers must update the Department for Work and Pensions and said many fail to.
His told the Advertising Standards Authority: “The DWP radio ad ignores the reality of the problem and is deeply misleading, with potentially disastrous consequences for thousands of people.
“I do not think DWP should be able to keep making such a misleading claim and hope ASA can prevent the ad being broadcast.”
And he wrote to Tory welfare chief Amber Rudd: “I’m concerned that the Department is attempting to ‘spin’ UC, rather than recognise and address the very serious problems within the system.”
The DWP said: “If a claimant’s wages change, their UC payment will automatically adjust. Our radio adverts are accurate and demonstrate the ways UC is a better benefit than the old system.”