Universal Credit
This new in and out of work credit integrates six of the main out of work benefits and was introduced in 2013 in one job centre in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester.
Full implementation of UC was to be completed by 2017, but it has not yet been completed. It has been criticised for and for its .
Universal Credit is a new single payment that applies to people who are looking for work or on a low income. It aims to bring together a range of working-age benefits into a single payment.
It replaces the individual payments of:
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Income Support
- Child Tax Credits
- Working Tax Credits
- Housing Benefit