It's Now Free To Call Universal Credit Lines

All calls to universal credit helplines are now free, the government has confirmed. There had been a row over the use of 0345 numbers which, while included in many free call packages, could cost up to 55p a minute. Under pressure from opposition parties, Tory MPs and charities, ministers announced on 18 October charges would be dropped "over the next month". The Department for Work on Pensions has confirmed all calls are now free. Read more on the BBC website.

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.