Universal Credit starts in Wales
8 Apr 2014 01:07 PM
New jobseekers in
Shotton can claim Universal Credit from 7 April 2014 as the new benefit rolls
out.
Shotton is the 10th site to
accept Universal Credit claims and the first Jobcentre in
Wales.
Universal Credit rolls 6
benefits into 1 and is a vital reform to the welfare state that rewards work,
as part of the government’s long-term economic plan.
Jobseekers will also be required
to sign the new Claimant Commitment. This sets out more fully what jobseekers
must do in order to receive state support – providing clear information
about the help to find work and consequences of failing to meet
requirements.
Minister for Welfare Reform Lord
Freud said:
Today Universal Credit rolls out
to the first claimants in Wales. People in Shotton will be able to claim
Universal Credit and benefit from this new welfare system that helps make work
pay.
We are redesigning how the state
supports people who want to work hard while providing a safety net for those
who fall on hard times.
We are bringing in Universal
Credit in a slow, safe and controlled way. This careful approach is working
well and we’re in a strong position as we continue to introduce it across
the country.
People who claim Universal
Credit have access to support delivered by a mix of local authorities and third
sector organisations to help them budget their money, get online and manage
their claim online.
Other developments to support
the cultural transformation Universal Credit will bring
include:
- the introduction of the Claimant
Commitment in 100 Jobcentres a month
- 6,000 new computers in
Jobcentres across the country for claimants to search for and apply for jobs
online, replacing the dated job points
The first claimants to Universal
Credit are single jobseekers and the majority of claims are made online.
Universal Credit claims will respond in real time to changes in people’s
circumstances, including when they take a job.
Universal Credit is up and
running in Greater Manchester and the Cheshire area, along with Hammersmith,
Inverness, Rugby, Bath and Harrogate.
Introduction to Universal
Credit
We’ve produced a new video
that explains Universal Credit to claimants.
Click Here for
Video
There’s a transcript of
the video in our Universal Credit toolkit
for partner organisations.
More about Universal
Credit
Universal Credit replaces income-based
Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance,
Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Housing
Benefit.
Jobcentre advisers and claimants
agree a Claimant Commitment, based on their individual circumstances, which
will clearly set out the jobseeker’s responsibilities to find
work.
The Claimant Commitment sets out
more fully what someone needs to do in order to receive state support –
building on current support and providing clear information about the
consequences of failing to meet requirements.
When a claimant starts work,
Universal Credit will be steadily withdrawn as their income
increases.
Universal Credit was introduced
in the pathfinder area of Ashton-under-Lyne on 29 April 2013.
Contact Press
Office
Media enquiries for this press
release – 0203 267 5111
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