{"id":35816,"date":"2013-11-25T06:30:00","date_gmt":"2013-11-25T06:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?guid=1061b7c1ca25264f32ed07a6ac306ba9"},"modified":"2013-11-25T06:30:00","modified_gmt":"2013-11-25T06:30:00","slug":"press-release-universal-credit-expands-to-rugby-and-inverness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/?p=35816","title":{"rendered":"Press release: Universal Credit expands to Rugby and Inverness"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"govspeak\">\n<p>Universal Credit rolls 6 benefits into 1 and is a vital reform to the welfare state that rewards work. <\/p>\n<p>Jobseekers will also be required to sign the new Claimant Commitment. This sets out more fully what jobseekers must do in order to receive state support \u2013 providing clear information about the consequences of failing to meet requirements.<\/p>\n<p>Universal Credit started in Hammersmith last month and is up and running in the Greater Manchester and Cheshire area. It will expand to Harrogate, Bath and Shotton by the spring.<\/p>\n<p>Minister for Welfare Reform Lord Freud said: <\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p class=\"last-child\">Universal Credit is modern welfare that rewards people who move into work, supports those who\u2019ve fallen on hard times and is fair to taxpayers.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>We are introducing Universal Credit in a slow, safe and controlled way. This careful approach is working well and we\u2019re in a strong position as we bring Universal Credit to Inverness and Rugby for the first time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"last-child\">Most people are claiming it online, the IT is working and comprehensive support is in place. We will build on these successes as Universal Credit continues to roll out.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>People who claim Universal Credit have access to support delivered by a mix of local authorities and third sector organisations to help them budget their money, get online and manage their claim online.<\/p>\n<p>Other developments to support the cultural transformation Universal Credit will bring include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>the introduction of the Claimant Commitment in 100 jobcentres a month until it is fully in place nationally in the spring<\/li>\n<li>6,000 new computers in Jobcentres across the country for claimants to look and apply for jobs online, replacing the dated job points.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The first claimants to Universal Credit are single jobseekers and the majority of claims will be made online. Universal Credit claims will respond in real time to changes in people\u2019s circumstances, including when they take a job. <\/p>\n<h2 id=\"more-information\">More information<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/policies\/simplifying-the-welfare-system-and-making-sure-work-pays\/supporting-pages\/introducing-universal-credit\">Universal Credit<\/a> replaces income-based Jobseeker\u2019s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Working Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, and Housing Benefit.<\/p>\n<p>Jobcentre advisers and claimants agree a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/policies\/simplifying-the-welfare-system-and-making-sure-work-pays\/supporting-pages\/introducing-the-jobseekers-allowance-claimant-commitment\">Claimant Commitment<\/a>, based on their individual circumstances, which will clearly set out the jobseeker\u2019s responsibilities to find work.<\/p>\n<p>When a claimant starts work, Universal Credit will be steadily withdrawn as their income increases.<\/p>\n<p>Universal Credit was introduced in the pathfinder area on 29 April 2013.<\/p>\n<p>The Claimant Commitment sets out more fully what someone needs to do in order to receive state support \u2013 building on current support and providing clear information about the consequences of failing to meet requirements.<\/p>\n<p>Media enquiries for this press release 0203 267 5123<\/p>\n<div class=\"contact postal-address\" id=\"contact_827\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<h3>Press Office<\/h3>\n<div class=\"vcard contact-inner\">\n<p class=\"adr\">\n<span class=\"street-address\">Caxton House<br \/>\n<br \/>\nTothill Street<\/span><br \/><span class=\"locality\">London<\/span><br \/><span class=\"postal-code\">SW1H 9NA<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<div class=\"email-url-number\">\n<p class=\"tel\">\n              <span class=\"type\">London Press Office (national media and London area enquiries only \u2013 not questions about personal claims)<\/span><br \/>\n              020 3267 5144\n            <\/p>\n<p class=\"tel\">\n              <span class=\"type\">Out-of-hours (journalists only)<\/span><br \/>\n              076 59 108 883\n            <\/p>\n<p class=\"tel\">\n              <span class=\"type\">England and Wales (local media enquiries)<\/span><br \/>\n              029 20 586 then 097or 098 or 099\n            <\/p>\n<p class=\"tel\">\n              <span class=\"type\">Scotland (local media enquiries)<\/span><br \/>\n              0131 310 1122\n            <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Follow DWP on:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Twitter \u2013 <a rel=\"external\" href=\"http:\/\/www.twitter.com\/dwppressoffice\">www.twitter.com\/dwppressoffice<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>Facebook \u2013 <a rel=\"external\" href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dwp\">www.facebook.com\/dwp<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>LinkedIn \u2013 <a rel=\"external\" href=\"http:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/dwp\">www.linkedin.com\/company\/dwp<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li>YouTube \u2013 <a rel=\"external\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/dwp\">www.youtube.com\/dwp<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New jobseekers in Inverness and Rugby will be able to make a claim for Universal Credit today as the new benefit rolls out.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35816"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=35816"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/35816\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=35816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=35816"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mostafa.openonline.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=35816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}