ALMOST half of those in receipt of Universal Credit chose the Scottish Government’s alternative payment options when offered.
Ministers have used their devolved welfare powers to enable people to receive their benefit payment more frequently and to have the housing element of it paid directly to their landlord.
New figures show by the end of August 66,700 people had been offered one or both Scottish choices since October 2017, with 31,960 taking up the offer. A total of 26,910 chose to implement more frequent payments, 11,430 chose to have the housing element of UC paid direct to their landlords, and 6380 chose both. An additional 4000 also requested the choices outwith a formal offer being made, and took up one or both of the options.
Universal Credit – a six-in-one benefits payment – was introduced as part of the UK’s overhaul of the welfare system. However, critics say cuts to payments, delays in receiving initial payments, and widespread problems with its implementation have led to many people falling into hardship or dropping out of the benefit system altogether.
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