16,000 claim Universal Credit
Almost 16,000 people in West Lothian are on Universal Credit, the latest figures from the Department of Work and Pensions reveal.
Of that number, almost 6000 have to rely on benefits despite being in work. The majority - 10,164, are unemployed, according to the DWP in September.
As fears for the economy grow with Brexit looming and the ongoing crisis of the Covid lockdown, Elaine Nisbet, the council’s antipoverty manager, delivered a report on Social Security Benefits and welfare reform to the Partnership and Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel (PDSP).
Universal Credit ( UC) involves the integration of six core benefits and tax credits into a single payment: income-based Job Seekers’ Allowance; income- based Employment Support Allowance; Income Support; Housing Benefit; Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit.
Universal Credit is delivered by the DWP. Whilst local authorities will not have a role in the administration of Universal Credit, it does impact on the administration of those benefits retained by local authorities, including the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Scottish Welfare Fund which distributes crisis grants and community care grants.
The total spend in West Lothian from the fund during this financial year to November was £958,212 in 5997 awards.
West Lothian went live with UC full service on May 16 2018 with claims now including couples and families. It has seen a surge in debt and rent arrears as the lag time between signing up and payments can stretch to nine weeks.
Changes to the benefits and welfare systems have been announced to provide additional support to low income households through the Covid-19 pandemic. The most prominent include: the standard allowance element of Universal Credit and Working Tax Credit was increased by £20 per week; the additional earnings disregard in Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction has increased from £17.10 to £37.10 per week; for the self-employed claiming universal credit, the minimum income floor is suspended for the duration of the coronavirus outbreak.
This means that the self-employed will now have access to and be paid universal credit even if they do not earn their required minimum income for people who receive financial assistance with their rent through Housing Benefit or Universal Credit. The local housing allowance rates were increased to at least 30 per cent of market rents in each area.
Other changes relate to Statutory Sick Pay, which is now paid from the first day of sickness, rather than the fourth, for those with coronavirus or symptoms of it.
There has also been the introduction of the Self-Isolation Support Grant which offers a £500 grant to individuals who are in receipt of benefits and who lose income as a result of being required to self-isolate by the test and protect service.
Changes to benefits and welfare have been announced