The scheme at the heart of the Government’s welfare reforms will be rolled out to north west England from next week.
Universal Credit (UC), which is already operating in ten areas across England, Wales and Scotland, will cover one in eight job centres once the latest phase of its expansion is completed.
Earlier this year a select committee criticised the ‘excruciatingly slow’ roll out of UC and warned welfare targets were unlikely to met as a result.
Four more job centres – in Hyde, Stalybridge, Stretford and Altrincham – will offer the new style benefit from Monday with a further 25 in the north west expected to join them during the course of the year.
Secretary of state for work and pensions, Iain Duncan Smith, said: ‘The continued rollout of the Universal Credit means more people will benefit from this transformation of the welfare state.
‘By simplifying the mess of benefits and tax credits we inherited, and by improving work incentives, we are ending the something-for-nothing culture and creating a system that is fair for those who seek to work and fair to the taxpayer.’
