Pilot Reveals Flaws in Universal Credit Causing Hardship to Tenants

First Choice Homes Oldham (FCHO) was one of four initial pilots in 2013 to roll out Universal Credit. The organisation has now carried out survey of its tenants who were switched to Universal Credit, and it claims to have found customers facing stark choices over heating or eating. The results show:

·         74% of tenants had not been offered personal budgeting support by the DWP

·         55% of tenants found the period between making their Universal Credit claim and receiving their first payment very difficult.

·         48% of tenants asked did not know they could apply for an advance payment for universal credit

·         37% of tenants did not receive their payment on the same day each month

·         22% said the job centre had not informed them that their rent needed to be paid out of Universal Credit money

·         59% of tenants had not found work since claiming Universal Credit

Read more on the Housing Excellence website.