Controversial benefit gets rolled out to other areas

Universal Credit is designed to replace six existing benefits with one monthly payment and will combine in and out of work benefits.

The Government predicts this will boost national employment by 300,000.

But many do not welcome the new benefit, claiming that it will increase poverty.

Frances Potter, of Citizens Advice Sheffield, said: “Universal is the wrong word for this benefit really. At the start we know that only very few people will be eligible to claim the new benefit and the roll-out will be very slow and steady. Please double-check before you make a claim- if you start out wrong you could end up with delays.”

Universal credit will be rolled out to Sheffield on January 18.

Before applying visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits