Up to 3, price 000 Liverpool families will be affected by cuts to their benefits from today as a major overhaul of the Universal Credit system is implemented.
Universal Credit is a single benefit payment that will replace up to six other benefits which include Jobseeker’s Allowance, malady Income Support and Housing Benefit.
The changes now mean that the amount of money that claimants can earn ,known as the work allowance, has been reduced.
Liverpool City Councilestimated that 2,800 families will lose between £60 – £200 a month.
Families affected by the changes will not know how much they will lose until receive their first payments under the new system.
The reduced payments will begin to appear in claimants’ bank accounts from today.
For those concerned about Universal Credit cuts advice on what to do about the new benefits system can be obtained from the Citizens Advice Bureau (citizensadvice.org.uk) and Liverpool Council’s Benefits Maximisation Service on 0800 028 3697.