Plans to increase Universal Credit payments flexibility could help 700,000 homes

UP to 700,000 homes are expected to benefit from plans to increase the flexibility of Universal Credit payments in Scotland.

The Scottish Government announced earlier this month that it will use new welfare powers to make payments of the reserved benefit more frequent and adaptable.

Responding to a parliamentary question by SNP MSP Graeme Dey, social security minister Jeane Freeman said between 650,000 and 700,000 households could benefit from the changes by 2022.

The move is the first use of the social security powers devolved under the Scotland Act 2016.

Under the plans, new claimants who live in council areas where a digital claiming system has been set up by the UK Government will have the option to be paid fortnightly instead of monthly.

Tenants in both social housing and the private rented sector will be able to have the housing element of Universal Credit paid directly to landlords.

Mr Dey said: “While the majority of social security powers remain reserved to Westminster, we’re determined to use our powers to make the system fairer where we can.

“These reforms will provide the flexibility that claimants have told us they needed, and in doing so it will help hundreds of thousands of families to manage their household budgets.”