Ballymoney next for Universal Credit roll-out

By Iveren McCallion

Q Radio has been told Causeway Citizens Advice will be operating overtime between now and February to handle Universal Credit enquiries.

It's as the Department for Communities announced a roll-out of the controversial benefits scheme in Ballymoney in less than two weeks.

The scheme substitutes six existing benefits with one, and will affect all working age adults receiving a benefit that it's to replace.

They include Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income-based Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support, Income-Related Employment Support Allowance, and Working Tax Credit.

Waiting times for payments have so far attracted criticism from claimants, with some left up to six weeks without money.

An employee at the advice centre told us that information on when claimants will be impacted is "conflicted" and "a bit of a minefield". 

Staff are currently undergoing training and have been told the effects of Universal Credit won't be felt until 2020.

The Department for Communities says Ballymoney claimants won't be affected until 2019, unless their circumstances change.

Causeway Citizens Advice will take appointments during additional hours on Saturdays between 9am and 2pm and on Thursdays between 5pm and 7pm to deal with Universal Credit enquiries.