THE government’s much-criticised Universal Credit will increase payments to most benefit claimants when it comes to five East Lancashire job centres, welfare reform minister David Freud has promised.

He told Lancashire Telegraph yesterday that the government had learnt from teething troubles and the new system would be ‘simpler, more flexible and seamless’.

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From Monday, October 6 unemployed claimants at Accrington, Burnley, Rawtenstall, Nelson, and Colne job centres will be transferred to the flagship programme.

Blackburn with Darwen will move over to Universal Credit, replacing six benefits with one all-encompassing payment, on November 24.

Government auditors, MPs and charities have criticised the roll-out for poorly-designed IT systems, making claimants apply on-line and a shift from fortnightly payments (with rent paid directly to the landlord) to cash transferred monthly into bank accounts.

A report to Burnley councillors said more support for vulnerable claimants was needed.

Lord Freud said: “We have learned from our pilot schemes and reset the IT system.

“We are moving the money paid in benefits to the poorest claimants.

“As East Lancashire is high on all the deprivation indexes, most will be better off.

“The system needed simplifying and, by bringing benefits together, we will make it easier for people to get the right money when they take on part-time or temporary work and as they move into work.

“Payments will be automatically adjusted and there be no more cliff-edges and sudden blocking of payments. It will be simpler, more flexible and seamless.

“There will be advisers to help people make claims on-line and a local system of support to help budgeting with new monthly payments.

“This will get people used to dealing with their money when in work. In some cases we will still pay rent direct to the landlord.

“Job coaches will help get the right job and help them when things go wrong.

“Universal Credit claimants continue to receive it while working, the amount reducing gradually as they earn more, so they see more money in their pocket for each hour they work.”

Blackburn with Darwen deputy leader Andy Kay said: “The minister is talking tosh. The system needed simplifying but this ill-directed policy is not the way.”