Universal Credit Direct Payment Pilots Extended For Further Six Months

The Universal Credit direct payment demonstration projects will be extended for a further six months, Minister for Welfare Reform Lord Freud has announced, as new findings from the projects are published. The DWP says the extension will help to further develop the support needed for social housing tenants moving onto Universal Credit. The projects will now run until the end of the year.  The latest findings from the projects show a rise in the rent collection rate to an average of 94%, helped by more than 1,000 tenants who have had their payments 'switched back' to their landlord.  Read more on 24dash.