Universal Credit
North Lanarkshire makes Universal Credit commitment to help tackle arrears
North Lanarkshire Council is to establish a fund to help tenants who find themselves falling into arrears due to a built-in-waiting time for Universal Credit payments to be processed and paid.
Published 12 September 2019
Five week wait for Universal Credit ‘leads people to debt, foodbanks, stress and ill health’
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has called for action to reduce the ‘five week wait’ that claimants of Universal Credit (UC) face before receiving their first payment.
Published 3 September 2019
Perth landlords urged to attend DWP event
Landlords in Perth are being encouraged to attend an event to learn more about Universal Credit.
Published 26 August 2019
Universal Credit ‘forcing tenants into rent arrears’
Universal Credit is causing tenants to fall behind with their rent, according to new research.
Published 23 August 2019
Dundee landlords urged to attend free DWP event about Universal Credit
The Scottish Association of Landlords (SAL) has urged Dundee landlords to attend a Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) event to learn more about Universal Credit.
Published 22 August 2019
Calls for investigation as quarter of a million people have been sanctioned under Universal Credit
Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has called for an urgent investigation into the sanctions system as new figures released by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) today reveal a quarter of a million people across the UK have been sanctioned under Universal Credit.
Published 13 August 2019
Holyrood committee calls for immediate halt to Universal Credit pilot rollout
A pilot scheme to transfer working tax credit claimants to Universal Credit should not proceed until there is more clarity around what it will mean for those affected, a Scottish Parliament committee has warned.
Published 12 July 2019
Landlords ‘disappointed’ in lack of government support for move to improve housing options for Universal Credit claimants
Scotland’s largest membership organisation for private landlords and letting agents has described it as “disappointing” that the Scottish Government won’t support a measure which would increase the availability of homes for those on Universal Credit.
Published 17 June 2019
Universal Credit blamed by MSPs for increasing rent arrears
The introduction of Universal Credit has greatly increased rent arrears and immediate action is needed to tackle the issue, a Scottish Parliament committee has said.
Published 14 June 2019
Fife fights poverty with new help for council tenants
A £1 million fund is to be made available to help Fife Council tenants who are struggling to cope with the effects of Universal Credit (UC).
Published 11 June 2019
Discretionary Housing Payments top £62m in 12 months
Local authorities in Scotland spent more than £62 million over the last year under the Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) scheme.
Published 31 May 2019
CAS warns UN on ‘digital divide’ in Universal Credit
As many as one in three people seeking help with Universal Credit don’t have access to the internet to make their claim, according to new figures from Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS).
Published 23 May 2019
Call for direct landlord payments of Universal Credit amid low take-up figures
Scottish Labour has called on the Scottish Government to use the new powers over social security to ensure automatic payment of the Universal Credit housing element to landlords.
Published 15 April 2019
First year success of Govan Housing Association’s Financial Inclusion Team
A Financial Inclusion Team formed by Govan Housing Association to assist its tenants and the wider community with all matters relating to money and welfare benefit advice is celebrating a successful first year.
Published 8 April 2019
SFHA: Universal Credit creates ‘systemic indebtedness’ for new claimants
Ahead of giving evidence today to the Scottish Parliament’s social security committee inquiry into social security support for housing, the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA) said that “Universal Credit is creating systemic indebtedness and arrears for new claimants”.
Published 4 April 2019
