Council counting cost of new credit rollout

Almost a quarter of a million pounds was spent by North Lanarkshire Council to try and undo the damage of Universal Credit.

And local authorities across Scotland have spent or put aside a total of £24 million to mitigate the devastating effects the harsh benefits system is having on individuals and families.

North Lanarkshire Council received funding from the Scottish Government to hand out to its tenants struggling to pay their rent and housing costs.

However, it is expected that council rent arrears will still rise as skint tenants end up in debt while waiting on Universal Credit payments.

A North Lanarkshire Council spokesman said:“the council issued discretionary housing payments during 2017/18 to 641 Universal Credit recipients totalling £232,274.”

Neighbouring South Lanarkshire Council is spending almost £4.5 million - more than any other council in Scotland - to deal with the effects of Universal Credit.

Housing chiefs have earmarked £4.1 million alone to cope with‘bad debt provision’caused by thetory policy.

Midlothian is the next highest spending region at £3.7 million, Edinburgh City follows at £3 million, and Glasgow is forking out £2.5 million.

Recent figures from thetrusselltrust, which operates a huge network of foodbanks, revealed that more than 600 emergency food supplies were handed to struggling kids in North Lanarkshire following the roll-out of Universal Credit.