Universal Credit ‘won’t be paused’

THE ROLLOUT of Universal Credit will not be paused, Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke said yesterday.

He told the Conservative conference he would tweak the system to ensure claimants are offered advance payments upfront, amid criticism people are waiting six weeks for any money and getting into debt.

Mr Gauke has come under pressure from a dozen Tory MPs, as well as Labour and a number of charities, to put the process on hold. He said: “Universal Credit is working.

“So I can confirm that the rollout will continue, and to the planned timetable.

“We’re not going to rush things, it is more important to get this right than to do this quickly, and this won’t be completed until 2022.

“But across the country, we will continue to transform our welfare system to further support those who aspire to work.”

Universal Credit combines a number of benefits such as housing benefit and tax credits into a single payment.

From October the pace of its rollout is due to be ramped up, with 50 job centres moving to the service every month from October.

Government figures show 23 per cent of new claimants do not receive their first full payment within six weeks, which has been linked to rent arrears and other debts for claimants.

Mr Gauke said claimants can get advance payments to tide them over.