Councils have warned a fund to help them move people onto Universal Credit simply isn’t enough. Town halls are handed “new burdens funding” to move previous Housing Benefit claimants to the new six-in-one system.
But officials told the Commons Work and Pensions Committee the scheme "doesn't touch the surface". Noel Duke of Harrogate Borough Council - which has piloted "transitioning" existing claimants to UC - said a pot of just over £18,000 in 2019/20 was cut to less than £8,000 this year.
He said: “Because of the increased number of tenants in rent arrears we appointed a new housing officer - those costs alone are in the region of £30,000, £40,000.
Read more on mirror.co.uk