SENIOR officers from a jobseekers support service have warned that chaos and weeks of poverty is looming for more than 13,000 residents in West Dunbartonshire when Universal Credit is rolled out.

The council’s Community Alliance group was told on Thursday that the Working4U department “don’t have enough resources” to have people ready for the change over in six months – and it could lead to people on benefits having to wait between eight to 12 weeks for payments.

Stephen Brooks, manager of West Dunbartonshire Council’s Working4U, told the committee: “The impact of these difficulties may include deferred/delayed claims and/or benefits sanctions.

“This, in turn, may lead to financial difficulties for those concerned and in some cases could lead to an increase in their rent arrears and a number of evictions.”

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) plans to introduce Universal Credit to West Dunbartonshire in September, but the Reporter understands it has been delayed a month.

Universal Credit will encompass those people in receipt of the five main out of work benefits. It will also affect those in work and in receipt of working tax credits.

Mr Brooks added: “In January 2018 the Office of National Statistics (NOMIS) reported that there were 8,400 people in West Dunbartonshire who were in receipt of the benefits that will roll into Universal Credit.”

This figure does not include those who are in work and in receipt of tax credits. Government statistics for the period 2015–2016 states that there are approximately 4,800 families in West Dunbartonshire who are in-work and in receipt of working tax credits.

In effect, in West Dunbartonshire there will be a minimum of 13,200 people in scope and moving to Universal Credit full service in October.

Mr Brooks said: “We don’t want to be an agency to have to impose mandatory job search. A lot of our clients don’t have the IT skills to be ready to make these claims and if they go along not ready they will just be put to the back of the queue.

“We have to have a clear working relationship with the DWP and step-up to the plate to meet that challenge.”

The level of difficulty, according to Mr Brooks, seems to be more pronounced among claimants with more complex life circumstances, such as people who need extra help including those with mental health needs or the homeless.

Mr Brooks said: “We don’t have enough staff or computers to get these people ready, especially for the numbers we have to see.”

Christine Brodie, team leader at Working4U – which is a learning, digital literacy and preparation for work service – added: “You hear all the horror stories of people waiting eight to 12 weeks for payments – it’s all true.

“The assessment period can take up to five weeks without any cash. They can get a benefit advance, but that has to be paid back.”

Anne MacDougall, Community Alliance chair, said: “Will this not push people in poverty down even further? These are people who are unemployed and who are getting hammered all the time.”

Tory councillor Sally Page, committee member, suggested learning mistakes from other councils that have already implemented the system.

A number of related actions have been taken to manage the impact of Universal Credit. This includes the development of the Welfare Reform Group within WDC.

Community Alliance proposed this week that a Customer Representation Group is set up to draw representation from DWP and organisations that provide support for Universal Credit claimants.

A DWP spokesperson told the Reporter: “Payments mirror the way many people in work are paid and while the majority of claimants are comfortable managing their money, we have invested up to £200m in Universal Support, which provides budgeting advice and digital support, delivered by local authorities. Benefit advances and direct rent payments to landlords are also available to those who need them.”

In response to a question by Councillor Caroline McAllister, who asked what would happen in a “domestic abuse” situation, where the couple is apart and payments under Universal Credit are made into one household, the DWP, replied: “Abuse in any form is completely unacceptable, and Jobcentre Plus staff do everything they can to make sure people fleeing domestic abuse get the help they need as quickly as possible.

“That includes fast tracking advances so that people are not left without money and transferring a person’s claim to a different Jobcentre.”