Universal Credit rollout schedule in 2015

The government has confirmed that the Universal Credit will be in place in 2015, and the rollout will continue nationwide over the course of the next several months. This will be a major change to families living in poverty or on a low income, as they will need to manage their benefits on their own to ensure all of their bills and expenses are paid on time.

While there have been deadlines missed to date, the Work and Pensions Secretary has confirmed the scheme will be in place by the end of 2015, and the tentative roll out by city and community across Great Britain is below. So this is an acceleration from what may have been considered as recently as mid 2014.

Not only is it continuing to be phased in, but the Universal Credit programme is also going through constant changes. As just one example, in the future, a pre-paid benefit card may be issued to participants, and the government is doing this to reduce fraud. It will prevent substance mis-users from using the benefits on non-essential items, and is will help ensure the government money can only be used for what the family needs.

Some of the expenses that can be paid from the soon to be issued card include food and housing or rent payments. Many people in fuel poverty will also be transitioned to the new scheme, so the benefit card can be used by them for their fuel or gas bills.

Confirmed improvements

Additional changes and improvements to the system are being made too. In addition to the six benefits now being combined into one payment for families, the government confirmed that Universal Credit Work Coaches will be ready to partner with participants. They will conduct an assessment and interview of their needs. Components of this will include.

Partnering with the coach, budgets will be created to account for income and expenses of the household. The aim is to ensure individuals have good money management skills. The coaches will work with those that receive the credit to help ensure they break the cycle of poverty.

Some tenants may need to enter into an Alternative Payment Arrangement to avoid homelessness, and the Universal Credit Work Coaches can help with this. They can help mediate a solution with landlord of private sector housing when needed.

Schedule for 2015

The confirmed roll out is as follows. During the September to December 2014 time period, jobcentres in western and northern England will be rolling out the credit to their residents. This includes the communities of Heywood, Middleton, Ormskirk, Rochdale, and Skelmersdale. Then, during 2015, all remaining Jobcentres across the UK will be implementing the Universal Credit to everyone, including new applicants and couples.

Even though the programme has been delayed, and many people say it should be discontinued as it is not working or it is causing additional hardships, the Work and Pensions Department is going full speed ahead with implementing the Universal Credit. The government is committed to tackling welfare dependency in the United Kingdom, and this confirmation of the rollout being completed in 2015 enforces that.