Universal Credit roll-out continues

Availability of Universal Credit has been widened to include Richmond, Kirkwall, Lerwick and Stornoway in line with aims to have the scheme available in a third of jobcentres by spring. 

Universal Credit is already available at over 260 jobcentres across the country which started with success in the North West last year.

Universal Credit merges the six existing benefits into one single benefit paid monthly to show claimants that they will always be better off in work than on benefits.

Jobcentres will have access to real-time HMRC data reducing fraud and errors with the system aiming to ensure that work always pays and is always incentivised.

Iain Duncan Smith, Work and Pensions Secretary said that Universal Credit “is bringing welfare into the 21st Century by restoring fairness to the system and making work pay in a modern labour market.”

When fully rolled out, it will benefit three million people and add £7 billion to the economy every year.

The most recent research on the project shows that the new system is getting individuals into work faster and helping them to earn more. 

Over 64,000 couples, families and lone parents have made a Universal Credit claim including claims being taken across the North West in over 96 sites.

Photo: J J Ellison, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons