By James Simons-
The government has announced that people will no longer be charged to call Universal Credit helpline, following criticism from MPs and campaigners.
Welfare Secretary David Gauke said the helpline, charged at local call rates which could be up to 55p a minute, would be made free in the weeks ahead. The move has come because of the harmful effects to the unemployed caused by payment delays. Payment delays are made more difficult when those on benefits have to call thye helpline service, but have no funds to do so. The whole issue was raised as an issue by the Labour party, and the government humbly accepted that something needed to be done to address the issue.
The government said anyone in financial distress can apply for advance payments. For a while , unemployed people on benefits were able to use telephone services at the job centre, but the system has recently been changed and phone services at job centres have now been denied to those who desperately need them.
Mr Gauke told the Commons work and pensions committee the government made no money from the 0345 number, but that “given the recent attention and concern”, it would be made a free phone number “over the next month”.
All DWP phone lines will be made free by the end of the year, he told the Commons work and pensions committee.
Claimants have often had to wait more than six weeks to receive their first payment in full because of errors and problems evidencing claims.The delays have led to people falling into debts with friends and family, and also into rent arrears
This has led to reports of growing numbers of people falling into rent arrears.