DWP Urged To Review Universal Credit 'Issues'

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) should review issues with universal credit, the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC) has said. SSAC, which advises the government, said changes to payment of housing costs are ‘a constant source of anxiety for landlords, housing associations, claimants and claimant advisers’. Under universal credit, benefit for housing costs is paid direct to households, as opposed to social landlords, in most instances. The SSAC report said: ‘We believe this [direct payment] policy needs close monitoring to ensure that arrears are kept in check and landlords are not discouraged from offering accommodation to benefit claimants.’ Download the report from the GovUK website.