The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has revealed that it has employed the digital services framework to trial the beta version of Universal Credit (UC).

The transformational programme of UC will be digital-by-default, with the programme designed to improve the DWP and the welfare system through the consolidation of services and greater efficiencies.

The release of the beta version of UC comes after the Government Digital Service (GDS) pulled out from working with the DWP to facilitate the digital-by-default policy.

The DWP said: "DWP’s future development approach will be based on previous ways of working with GDS colleagues".

The Beta version will be rolled out to a small selection of jobcentre claimants later this year, with plans to release a full version to all customers after the trial period.

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