{"id":78028,"date":"2020-09-29T20:55:40","date_gmt":"2020-09-29T17:55:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/flawed-algorithm-for-uk-welfare-payments-is-pushing-people-into-poverty\/"},"modified":"2020-09-29T20:55:40","modified_gmt":"2020-09-29T17:55:40","slug":"flawed-algorithm-for-uk-welfare-payments-is-pushing-people-into-poverty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/flawed-algorithm-for-uk-welfare-payments-is-pushing-people-into-poverty\/","title":{"rendered":"#Flawed algorithm for UK welfare payments is ‘pushing people into poverty’"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Flawed algorithm for UK welfare payments is ‘pushing people into poverty’<\/strong>”
\n<\/p>\n

\n A flawed algorithm that determines the social<\/a> security benefits received by people in the UK is causing hunger, debt, and psychological distress, Human Rights Watch has warned.<\/p>\n

The model\u00a0calculates the benefits people are entitled to each month based on changes in their earnings. But Human Rights Watch discovered a defect in the system.<\/span><\/p>\n

The algorithm only analyzes the wages people receive within a calendar month, and ignores how often they\u2019re paid. This means that people who receive multiple paychecks in a month \u2014 a common occurrence in irregular and low-paid work \u2014 can have their earnings overestimated and their payments dramatically shrunk.<\/span><\/p>\n

Human Rights Watch says the system could be improved\u00a0by using\u00a0shorter periods of income assessment or averaged\u00a0earnings over longer periods of time. While the government evaluates these proposals, the watchdog has called\u00a0for urgent measures to be implemented, such as one-off grants for app<\/a>licants.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe government has put a flawed algorithm in charge of deciding how much money to give people to pay rent and feed their families,\u201d said Amos Toh, senior AI and human rights researcher at Human Rights Watch. \u201cThe government\u2018s bid to automate the benefits system \u2013 no matter the human cost \u2013 is pushing people to the brink of poverty.\u201d<\/p>\n

[Read:\u00a0Are EVs too expensive? Here are 5 common myths, debunked]<\/em><\/p>\n

The algorithm is a core part of Universal Credit, a revamp of the UK\u2018s\u00a0welfare system that combines six benefits into one monthly sum.<\/p>\n

The system was designed to streamline payments, but has been widely criticized since its\u00a0launch in 2016. Anyone who applies for it has to wait for five weeks before they receive their first payment, and people with limited digital skills or internet access have struggled to manage the online system.<\/p>\n

The algorithm the UK uses reflects a global trend to automate social security systems. Last October, a\u00a0UN human rights expert said<\/a>\u00a0these programs were often designed to slash welfare, ramp up government surveillance, and generate profits for corporate interests.<\/span><\/p>\n

Human Rights Watch wants the UK government to take a more human-centered approach. But problems with the algorithm shouldn\u2019t let the policymakers\u00a0off the hook.<\/p>\n

So you\u2019re interested in AI? Then <\/span>join our online event, TNW2020<\/span>, where you\u2019ll hear how artificial intelligence is transforming industries and businesses.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\n Published September 29, 2020 \u2014 17:55 UTC\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n