Town to be pathfinder for new benefit

WARRINGTON has been invited to be a “pathfinder” authority to steer the way towards the new Universal Credit – the new payment to replace Housing Benefit, Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support and a whole range of other benefits next year.
Members of the borough council’s executive are to be asked to endorse the town’s participation as a pathfinder, along with Wigan, Tameside and Oldham.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will introduce Universal Credit nationally in October next year.
But pathfinder authorities will operate the scheme from next April.
Town Hall chiefs decided to recommend that Warrington accept the invitation after a full and detailed review of the borough’s requirements and talks with the DWP and the other councils.
They say there are advantages in joining the scheme, including the potential to shape and influence key aspects of Government policy and to enable residents to receive any benefits of the new scheme earlier.
The DWP has an offce at Birchwood, ensuring close working between the council and the DWP, who already have a strong working relationship.
DWP have confirmed that funding protection will be available to residents who see their income fall due to the change – and that funding will available to assist with the start-up.
But Warrington North MP Helen Jones (pictured) believes there could be problems for people on benefit arising from the pilot.
She claims the project has not been properly thought through with many details not yet finalised.
The MP said: “Training needs for staff haven’t been identified, funding to publicise the scheme hasn’t been allocated and access to the scheme for those people without internet access appears to have been overlooked.
“If the Government isn’t ready for the launch of the pilot here in Warrington, then families in work and people who are looking for work could be at risk of walking into a chaotic system. With long-term youth unemployment increasing by over 1,000 per cent in the last year, the Government needs to make sure this scheme is properly set-up and delivers results.”
Officers admit there could be drawbacks to being in the pilot as there is the potential for customers to become confused. They say it will be essential to ensure the scheme receives maximum publicity.
One key change is that public sector tenants will have housing costs paid directly to them, rather than to the landlord and this means there could be a risk that some may at first struggle with budgeting and making provision for rental payments.