Support for people making a Universal Credit claim will continue to be delivered across Great Britain for the fourth year running, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed.
The DWP’s ‘Help to Claim’ support will be delivered independently by Citizens Advice, in partnership with Citizens Advice Scotland, following a further £21.3m investment.
Since 2019, Help to Claim has supported over half a million people, with nine in 10 people using the service rating their overall experience as good or very good, according to the DWP.
The service will now run until March 2023.
The announcement follows recent changes to the Universal Credit taper rate, which combined with the increase to work allowances, means families can expect to see an extra £1,000 a year on average, the government says.
Minister for Welfare Delivery David Rutley said: “We remain committed to providing the best possible support for all claimants, including the most vulnerable in society, in both making and maintaining their claim.
“In addition to the support Jobcentre Plus staff already provide, Citizens Advice will continue to deliver high quality, independent advice, and we look forward to working closely with them in the months to come.
“For anyone who needs a bit of extra support to claim Universal Credit, Help to Claim is there.”
Dame Clare Moriarty, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said: “We’re glad to continue this important service as we’ve seen first hand the difference our advisers make in helping people access Universal Credit.
“We’ll continue to use our frontline insights to suggest enhancements to the way benefits are delivered, further helping the people we support.”
Image: Lisa-S/Shutterstock
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