New Universal Credit to come to Shropshire in February

It is scheduled to be rolled out in Shropshire early next year, with Telford to follow in the summer.

Shropshire Council, including Job Centres in Bridgnorth, Market Drayton, Oswestry, Shrewsbury and Whitchurch, will transfer to the new system of benefit payments on February 7.

Claimants in Telford & Wrekin will see their payments move to the new system in late July.

The news comes as the new system – which provides a single type of benefit to replace existing systems such as housing benefit, child tax credits, income support, working tax credits, jobseeker's allowance or employment and supprt allowance – comes under further fire.

Jeremy Corbyn used PMQs to ask Prime Minister Theresa May to "respect the will of the House" and pause Universal Credit after MPs last week supported a non-binding motion to halt the welfare reforms.

He raised concerns over "hard-pressed" councils having to "pick up the bill" from the new system, amid reports that people are having to wait up to six weeks to pick up their first payments under the new system.

Gareth Niblett from the Job Centre in Shropshire said: "We have held some good events talking about Universal Credit and how it will work, and how it will be a digital service.

"There were concerns we have seen around waiting times, but we put a lot of time into talking to our partners about support for people during the initial assessment phase.

"It's a large period before their first payment, but if they are struggling we do have an advance for people and alternative payments arrangements."

Some councils which have already adopted Universal Credit have said the system is "pushing people into poverty" because of the 42-day wait for the initial payment.

Reports have suggested that the new system has led to some people falling into rent arrears during the waiting period, while food bank use has also seen a spike.