Government: Red Tape Lineage
DWP Universal Credit — Red Tape Lineage
A simplified model of the bureaucratic lineage a Universal Credit claim must traverse — from primary legislation through statutory instruments, policy frameworks, operational procedures, and approval gates to final payment authorisation.
Reading the Graph
Node colours indicate the type of artefact in the bureaucratic chain:
| Colour | Type | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Dark navy | Legislation | Acts of Parliament, Statutory Instruments |
| Teal | Policy / Outcome | Policy frameworks, payment authorisation |
| Mid navy | Procedure | Operational procedures |
| Amber | Form | Claim applications, submission forms |
| Teal (darker) | Process Step | Identity verification, eligibility checks |
| Coral | Compliance / Approval | DPIA checks, manager sign-off gates |
Relationships show how red tape flows and compounds:
- ENACTS / MANDATES — legislation creating downstream obligations
- CONSTRAINS / GOVERNS — rules shaping operational procedure
- REGULATES — cross-cutting compliance (GDPR via a separate Act)
- REQUIRES / TRIGGERS — procedural dependencies
- FEEDS_INTO / ESCALATES_TO — data and decision flow
- CLEARS / AUTHORISES — approval gates before outcome