IDS Moots Plan to Reshuffle Benefits Staff

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has said that some of the 20,000 Housing Benefit staff under threat by the forthcoming Universal Credit (UC) system could be found new roles dealing with Council Tax Benefit, which is due to change in April 2013.  He said, "Although housing benefit will be absorbed into Universal Credit, we must not forget that that will not happen overnight. I am sure that any impact on job roles will be counterbalanced by, for example, changes to localised council tax benefit, which will require a number of staff."  He also suggested that "the administration of the social fund is also being moved down to local authorities, and there will be other work, too."  Read more on 24dash.