olivia
Universal credit news shows that about 6.1 million people in Great Britain claimed Universal Credit, a substantial increase from 5.5 million in March 2022 and over 6.0 million in March 2021.
Forty-seven percent, or 57 percent, of these people were women and this has remained relatively constant over time.
The details of Universal credit news also reflect that 50% off these households have children meaning that more families are falling back on it.
New claims totalled around 43,000 each week, while average impact on the number of people, some 34,000, continue to transition from other benefits to Universal Credit.
Recent Changes to Universal Credit Rules
Universal credit news 2024 mentions that people receiving Universal Credit who work less than 18 hours a week need to find more work, a change from the 15-hour limit.
This affects about 180,000 people, making them either work more or lose benefits. The government wants to help more people work and reduce reliance on welfare.
People earning the National Living Wage have to work at least 18 hours, but those earning more can work fewer hours as long as they make at least £892 a month.
The Three-Step Plan for Improving Universal Credit
Universal credit news mentions that recent research on Universal Credit outlines how it can be made more fair, easier to understand and better linked with employment.
In order to make it more fair, they suggest abolishing the rule of having not more than two children, increasing allowance up to which people may earn, and increasing £20 child benefit to support families.
They recommend it should be easier to use, needing changes to how people apply online, appealing decisions and checking their numbers have been applied correctly using the details that people provide.
As for making it more connected to work, they suggest looking at rules for requiring work, which placed individuals with disabilities in less-stringent employment categories, and adding a second earner work allowance.
Design and Function Improvements for Universal Credit
Proposed changes in Universal credit news is an online claim system focused on making it easier and more user-friendly for everyone who applies.
The main goals are to make the online form simpler and more understandable, which will help reduce mistakes when filling it out.
There’s also a push for better support for people who don’t use the internet, like having special phone lines and help available at local job centers for those who find technology hard to use.
The Relationship Between Universal Credit and Work
Looking at Universal credit news and how Universal Credit works, it definitely shows it affects people’s chances of finding work and their money situation a lot.
ight now, people who get UC have to show they want a job, which can make them accept jobs that aren’t right for them or their families.
Ideas to improve it include giving extra help for finding work, like one-on-one job training to fit their needs, and paying for childcare so parents can work.
Migration from Legacy Benefits to Universal Credit
Universal credit news also mentions when moving from old benefits like Tax Credits to Universal Credit (UC), people get a migration notice from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
This notice tells them their old benefits will stop and they need to sign up for UC by a certain date, usually three months after getting the notice.
However, the DWP says there might be a short grace period to sign up, but doing it quickly helps them keep their benefits without any breaks.
Transitional Protection Under Universal Credit
According to Universal credit news , transitional protection is a safety net that helps people moving from old benefits to Universal Credit by making sure they don’t get less money under UC than they did before, as long as they meet certain requirements.
To get this protection, people need to answer their migration notice and apply for UC by the deadline or within a month after it.
This protection can go away over time if UC rates go up or if someone’s situation changes, like having a child or earning more, and it might stop if their UC is the same or more than their old benefits.
Advocacy and Criticism Surrounding Universal Credit Reforms
Charities and groups are worried about the recent changes to Universal Credit (UC), especially how they affect low-income families and people with health problems.
Many, like the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Trussell Trust, say that about nine in ten families on UC find it hard to buy basic things because the payments are too low.
This has made it harder for them to avoid needing food banks, with nearly three million emergency food packs given out last year.
Critics also point out that new rules about needing to work more and a limit on having two children make it harder for people with disabilities and larger families to get by, pushing them further into poverty.
They want changes like a guarantee that UC payments cover basic living costs, saying that without this, the changes could make it harder for families to get out of poverty and be better off.
Universal credit news shows that we need a fairer welfare system that helps different groups of people.
Charities and groups that speak up for others point out that we should help people become self-sufficient, which is a key aim for future social support plans.
