City claimants double during the last year

4,149 CLAIMING UNIVERSAL CREDIT

The number of Universal Credit (UC) claimants in Sunderland has almost doubled over a four-month period.

UC brings six existing legacy benefits into one monthly payment and rolled out city-wide in July as a full live service.

While the idea of UC was to simplify the benefits system, problems with introduction have reportedly forced benefit claimants into hardship.

On December 7, Sunderland City Council’s Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee heard updates on UC and its impact.

As of September 2018, about 4,149 people were recorded claiming the benefit – compared to 2,564 in June the same year.

The latest available data on sanctions – between January and March 2018 – also showed there were 379 sanctions linked to UC.

Head of integrated commissioning on the council, Graham King, speaking at Sunderland Civic Centre, admitted services faced increased demand as claimant numbers increase.

“We have seen probably twice as many coming forward than what we expected from the projected figures from the Department of Work and Pensions,” he told councillors at Sunderland Civic Centre.

“Anyone on current benefits can choose to convert to UC and despite some of the publicity around it, we have had a number of people come forward who have wanted to be converted to it.

“That in part accounts for an increase in the numbers.”

The meeting also heard the council faced difficulties around assessments, which could lead to sanctions in some cases.

“Everyone has an agreement that they must stick to and if they deviate from that agreement a sanction can be put in place, people can appeal and we will support them to do that,” Mr King added.