This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30187742

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Universal Credit: New benefit rolled out to families Universal Credit: New benefit rolled out to families
(about 9 hours later)
The government's flagship welfare reform programme Universal Credit is being extended, with parents able to claim it for the first time.The government's flagship welfare reform programme Universal Credit is being extended, with parents able to claim it for the first time.
The change will initially apply to parents in parts of north-west England.The change will initially apply to parents in parts of north-west England.
The credit, which merges six working-age benefits into a single payment, had previously been available only to single people and couples.The credit, which merges six working-age benefits into a single payment, had previously been available only to single people and couples.
It will be available in a third of job centres by Spring 2015, Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said. The reform has been hit by delays and the National Audit Office previously said it was poor value for money.
He said the new benefit restored "fairness to the system". But Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith insisted he had decided to roll out the system "carefully" with all the systems "tested", unlike Labour's tax credits.
The universal credit system merges six working-age benefits - income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, income support, child tax credit, working tax credit and housing benefit - into a single payment in a far-reaching change designed to encourage work and reduce fraud. Criticism
'Welfare revolution' "Would you rather us take a gamble and throw everything at it at once? Have a problem like tax credits where nobody got their money and was a real disaster?" he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Couples with children and lone parents will now be able to claim Universal Credit worth up to 70% of childcare costs, with a monthly limit for one child of £532, and £912 for two or more children. "Or would you rather have it as the Independent Major Projects Authority said to us as they reviewed it in the last few months? They said: 'This is the right way to roll out a programme so that it de-risks the roll out and ensures that the people who need this money... get the money....' That's the important thing surely?"
It is already available to single and couple claimants in over 80 job centres in England, Wales and Scotland and will be available in nearly 100 job centres by Christmas, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) said. The Universal Credit system merges six working-age benefits - income-based jobseeker's allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, income support, child tax credit, working tax credit and housing benefit - into a single payment in a far-reaching change designed to encourage work and reduce fraud.
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: "Universal Credit is bringing welfare into the 21st Century by restoring fairness to the system and making work pay in a modern labour market.
"As part of our long-term economic plan, today sees the next stage of this welfare revolution brining families on-board with extra childcare support and flexibility for employers. By spring next year one in three jobcentres will be offering the new benefit."
AnalysisAnalysis
BBC social affairs correspondent Mark EastonBBC social affairs correspondent Mark Easton
Universal credit has been hailed by the government as a revolution in welfare provision, bringing together six existing benefits, including job seekers allowance and housing benefit. Universal Credit has been hailed by the government as a revolution in welfare provision, bringing together six existing benefits, including jobseeker's allowance and housing benefit.
But the scheme has been beset by problems - tens of millions of pounds have been written off due to technical problems and only 20,000 people are currently claiming it, rather than the one million initially envisaged by ministers.But the scheme has been beset by problems - tens of millions of pounds have been written off due to technical problems and only 20,000 people are currently claiming it, rather than the one million initially envisaged by ministers.
Those who are already receiving it have been mainly single people with no housing costs, but from today parents in a small part of the north west of England will be able to apply.Those who are already receiving it have been mainly single people with no housing costs, but from today parents in a small part of the north west of England will be able to apply.
If they're eligible, they'll be able to get much more extensive help with child care costs than under existing benefit rules.If they're eligible, they'll be able to get much more extensive help with child care costs than under existing benefit rules.
The expansion to more complex cases will be a key test of universal credit's robustness, and it's IT system in particular. The expansion to more complex cases will be a key test of Universal Credit's robustness, and it's IT system in particular.
The national audit office, which said in a report last year that universal credit was not achieving value for money, is due to deliver another assessment tomorrow. The National Audit Office, which said in a report last year that Universal Credit was not achieving value for money, is due to deliver another assessment on Wednesday.
The department also said research suggested that those on Universal Credit report that they are working more over a six-month period, and that people find the welfare reform easier to understand. Couples with children and lone parents will now be able to claim Universal Credit worth up to 70% of childcare costs, with a monthly limit for one child of £532, and £912 for two or more children.
The DWP originally promised to have one million people on universal credit by April 2014, but the project has been delayed a number of times since its creation and MPs have criticised the way it has been managed. It is already available to single and couple claimants in over 80 job centres in England, Wales and Scotland and will be available in nearly 100 Jobcentres by Christmas, the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) said.
The DWP originally promised to have one million people on Universal Credit by April 2014, but the project has been delayed a number of times since its creation and MPs have criticised the way it has been managed.
Labour's Rachel Reeves has previously said her party would "pause" Universal Credit if it wins the next general election in 2015.Labour's Rachel Reeves has previously said her party would "pause" Universal Credit if it wins the next general election in 2015.
'Restoring fairness'
But Mr Duncan Smith argued that "almost 40,000 people are claiming" the new benefit and it would be available in a third of Jobcentres by Spring 2015.
He had deliberately chosen to ensure it was landed "safely and carefully", he said.
"I think this is the way in which almost every other programme that involves IT and major change should be rolled out - carefully, tested first, learn the results, make the changes and roll it out to the majority," he told Today.
He added: "Universal Credit is bringing welfare into the 21st Century by restoring fairness to the system and making work pay in a modern labour market.
"As part of our long-term economic plan, today sees the next stage of this welfare revolution bringing families on board with extra childcare support and flexibility for employers. By spring next year one in three jobcentres will be offering the new benefit."
The department also said research suggested that those on Universal Credit report that they are working more over a six-month period, and that people find the welfare reform easier to understand.
Are you a parent who has just started to receive Universal Credit? If you are happy to speak to the BBC please email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukand remember to leave your contact details.
Have your say