universal-credit.org.uk   

 

Universal Credit; welfare benefits; real-time earnings information; Universal Credit; PIP;

Universal Credit welfare that works; social justice; universal credit; housing costs; making work pay; digital by default; Work Programme; replacing Jobseeker’s Allowance; Universal Credit; welfare that works; combating poverty; welfare dependency; Housing Benefit; work pays; better-off in work; Council Tax; localized Council Tax Benefit; Personal Independence Payment; PIP; managing your money; demonstration projects; direct payment; The Welfare Reform Bill; Simplifying the welfare system; benefits Universal Credit welfare that works; social justice; universal credit; housing costs; making work pay; digital by default; Work Programme; replacing Jobseeker’s Allowance; Universal Credit; welfare that works; combating poverty; welfare dependency; Housing Benefit; work pays; better-off in work; Council Tax; localized Council Tax Benefit; Personal Independence Payment; PIP; managing your money; demonstration projects; direct payment; The Welfare Reform Bill; Simplifying the welfare system; Universal Credit welfare that works; social justice; universal credit; housing costs; making work pay; digital by default; Work Programme; replacing Jobseeker’s Allowance; Universal Credit; welfare that works; combating poverty; welfare dependency; Housing Benefit; work pays; better-off in work; Council Tax; localized Council Tax Benefit; Personal Independence Payment; PIP; managing your money; demonstration projects; direct payment; The Welfare Reform Bill; Simplifying the welfare system;Work Programme; replacing Jobseeker’s Allowance; Universal Credit; welfare that works; Universal Credit welfare that works; social justice; universal credit; housing costs; making work pay; digital by default; Work Programme; replacing Jobseeker’s Allowance; Universal Credit; welfare that works; combating poverty; welfare dependency; Housing Benefit; work pays; better-off in work; PIP; Universal Credit; combating poverty; welfare dependency; making work pay; digital service;

This website started on 1st November 2010. It's purpose is to give information and an independent view about Universal Credit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Get welfare benefits advice here!

 

 

 

Overview of Universal Credit

 

 

It is widely recognised that the United Kingdom's welfare benefits system is too complex. An unemployed person, or someone in low-paid work, might commonly receive at least three different means-tested welfare benefits.

 

This complexity has resulted in:

 

  • A system that is slow to respond to changes in a customer's circumstances

 

  • A system where the same information is handled by two or three different agencies, creating an expensive multiple-handling of work

 

  • A system which makes unemployed people afraid to start work through fear of being financially worse-off, due to the aggressive income tapers in their various benefits

 

  • A system which is open to fraud and error.

 

Shortly after it came to power in May 2010, the coalition Government announced its intention to radically overhaul Britain's benefits system. In July 2010, it published a green paper, outlining various options, which included the Universal Credit.

 

Then, at the Conservative Party Conference, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, announced that the Government is to push-ahead with Universal Credit.

 

In November 2010, a White Paper was published, heralding the Welfare Reform bill.

 

The Welfare Reform Act received Royal Assent on 9th March 2012. Regulations are expected later in 2012, and the Universal Credit will be phased-in over the period 2013-2017.

 

 

 

 

 

 universal-credit.org.uk © 2010                                                                                                                                          contact us

 

Free Specialist Resources!  Click here to visit our specialist resources area

What's left for the Town Halls?

Read our special report

Click here to see our

Universal Credit Frequnetly Asked Questions section