Universal Credit Rollout Continues
April will see the rollout of Universal Credit continue across Scotland.
The next phase of Universal Credit Full Service rollout is proceeding, with North Lanarkshire going live in April.
Dumfries and Galloway and West Lothian will be next in May with June seeing the rollout cover Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross, Scottish Borders and Moray.
There will then be a summer break before the final phase of rollouts between September and December.
Edinburgh and West Dunbartonshire have been pushed back a month until November.
The DWP will then start its managed migration of claimants still on legacy benefits in July 2019, with an estimated completion in 2022.
Certain measures announced in November 2017 are now in place: the Live Service closed to new claims in January, and claimants can now apply for 100% payment advances, payable over 12 months.
From February the seven day wait before a claimant could apply for Universal Credit was scrapped.
In April claimants transitioning from Housing Benefit to Universal Credit will get a two week Housing Benefit run on, although details of how exactly this will work have yet to be released.
Tenants in temporary accommodation will have their housing costs met via Housing Benefit.
For further information contact Jeremy Hewer at jhewer@sfha.co.uk