Automated benefits plan in tatters

The UK government has been forced to abandon plans to automate the processing of all benefit claims, official documents have revealed.

The ambitious change was included among publicly stated goals in the Department for Work and Pensions' business plan six months ago for completion by October next year. But in the latest update, officials admit it has already proved impossible and massively watered down the project to deal with only 75 per cent of claims for one benefit, Jobseeker's Allowance.