Gauke Announces Universal Credit Phone Line Will Be Free

David Gauke has told the DWP Committee the phone line for claimants of Universal Credit is now free. The phone line was one of the aspects of Universal Credit that Jeremy Corbyn picked up on in PMQs, with pressure growing from there. The phone lines previously were 55p per minute, with some critics saying they were at premium levels. Gauke opened the evidence session in the DWP committee, saying: “There has been criticism over the telephone calls. Contrary to some reports these are not premium lines and DWP does not make a profit from it. However, this telephone line is now going to be free to call.” Read more on 24housing.

Duncan Smith Charging Poor Families 45p A Minute To Talk About Benefits

Iain Duncan Smith is to charge struggling families up to 45p a minute to claim vital benefit payments by phone. The Work and Pensions Secretary is refusing to set up an 0800 freephone number for the millions of people who will soon be making claims via his new Universal Credit welfare system. It flies in the face of a previous DWP pledge of free calls for “all major benefit claim lines”.  Anyone trying to claim Universal Credit will be forced to call an 0345 number, incurring charges of up to 45p a minute from a mobile or 12p a minute from a landline according to the Government’s own figures. Read more on the Daily Mirror website.