Controversial Universal Credit helpline charges scrapped

Universal Credit

The controversial charge for the Universal Credit helpline is to be scrapped next month, the Government announced on Wednesday (18 October).

David Gauke, the work and pensions secretary, told MPs that the costs would be scrapped by the end of the year.

The universal helpline, a 0345 number, was charged at local rate, but ‘in light of the concerns’, Gauke has decided to review the matter and change it to a freephone number.

All DWP phone lines are set to be extended to freephone numbers by the end of the year.

The news is a victory for the Labour Party as last week, leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn called on Prime Minister Theresa May to ‘rethink’ the benefits system and abolish the 55p-per-minute charge for claimants.

Leader of Rochdale Borough Council, Richard Farnell, has openly criticised the Universal Credit policy, likening it to the “ill-thought out poll tax debacle of the 1980s”.

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/113219/council-leader-richard-farnell-why-the-government-needs-to-listen-on-universal-credit

https://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/113132/universal-credit-isn%E2%80%99t-working-for-rochdale-says-council-leader-richard-farnell

Councillor Farnell has been contacted for comment.