UC claimants are behind on rent 1 year on

CLAIMANTS are still behind on rent over a year after going on to Universal Credit, research shows.

Arrears fell from 12% of rent 22 weeks after joining the new benefits system to 7% after a year – but then stayed steady, suggesting debts continued.

A study by the respected Smith Institute tracked 377 council tenants in Southwark, South London, who were among the first to join the scheme in 2016.

Their local foodbank saw a 30% rise in demand in the last year, of which 80% was attributed to UC.

The Labour council’s finance chief Victoria Mills urged ministers to “take rapid steps to fix UC”.