Universal Credit rules ‘forcing people into debt’

Four in 10 are waiting more than six weeks for a payment

The requirement to wait six weeks before receiving a payment under the Universal Credit rules means many people are being forced into debt, according to Citizens Advice. Universal Credit merges six existing benefits into one – including tax credits, housing benefit and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). By 2022, over seven million households will receive Universal Credit and over half (54%) of these will be working households. Universal Credit will be claimed by 52% of all families with children in the UK and 58% of households where an adult is disabled or has a long-term health condition. As survey of 800 people who sought help with Universal Credit found 39% are waiting more than the six weeks it should take to receive their first payment. Excerpt from Health Insurance Daily, read the full article here.