Welfare Reform - Written Ministerial Statement

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr Iain Duncan Smith MP):

Today I can confirm plans for the next stage of implementing Universal Credit to all remaining Jobcentres and Local Authorities as we progress national expansion through 2015/16 and secure delivery of Universal Credit across Great Britain. Universal Credit claims are now taken in over 50 Jobcentres and will be available in nearly 100 Jobcentres by Christmas – more than 1 in 8 across Great Britain. We have increased the groups who can claim Universal Credit to include couples and,from this autumn, we will extend this further to include families in the North West. Now national expansion will progress from February 2015 to all remaining Jobcentres and Local Authorities for new single claimants previously eligible for Jobseekers Allowance, including those with existing Housing Benefit and Tax Credit claims. Read more on the Parliament website.