Oldham shows way on universal credit

WORK and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has said the Government learned a lot from introducing Universal Credit in Oldham.

Statistics show job-seekers in the borough spend more time looking for work under the new system.

Oldham was one of the first areas to go live with the new scheme, which brings six benefits, including jobseekers, housing benefits and tax credits, into one system. More than 1,000 people signed up within months of the launch last July.

The MP said: “We’ve learned a lot from the early running of Universal Credit in Oldham and other areas.

“On average people claiming Universal Credit look for jobs for 27 hours a week, compared to 13.6 hours by jobseeker’s allowance claimants. This shows the better work incentives of Universal Credit are having an impact.”