Eleven Jobcentres in Scotland will start offering Universal Credit – a change to the welfare system that the Conservative government says ‘guarantees work always pays’.

David Freud, Minister for Welfare Reform, said: “As part of our long-term economic plan, people in Scotland will have the financial security that work will always pay – more hours means more money in your pocket. On top of that, our work coaches will give claimants the tailored support they need to get into work and for the first time will give people support to earn more when they are in work.

“The switch to Universal Credit will make it easier for employers to offer part-time workers more hours because they do not face the current system’s ‘cliff edge’ where benefits are withdrawn as soon as someone works 16 hours per week.” Universal Credit is replacing the six main out-of-work benefits and tax credits and is being gradually rolled out across the country.

The system gradually reduces the amount of benefit a claimant receives as their earnings increase and it will eventually replace Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance, Working and Child Tax Credits, and Housing Benefit.

Leading poverty charities have hit out at the change, labelling it a ‘moral crusade, rather than evidence based’.

Gemma Doyle MP – who voted in favour the change in April – said: “I believe we can get spending under control by making fairer and different choices, such as cutting the winter fuel allowance from the richest five per cent of pensioners, and tackling low wages which leave too many people reliant on in-work benefits.

“This is not a cap on any individual’s benefits and it does not involve any additional cuts. It does not change the fact we disagree with many of this government’s policies such as the Bedroom Tax, which we will repeal.” Cllr Jim Bollan said Universal Credit is the ‘biggest attack’ on the welfare system since it was introduced in the UK. He added: “The stated objective by the Tory government in introducing UC is to cut benefits to enable more public money to be made available to continue to bail out the rich bankers. People will lose benefits altogether while other claimants will receive substantial cuts to their benefits. The Red Tories who are running WDC are supporting the introduction of UC in West Dunbartonshire by taking a £60,000 grant from the Tory government to assist people to apply to have their benefits cut or stopped altogether.” Jackie Baillie MSP said the Tories’ welfare policy is ‘massively behind schedule and over budget’. She added: “In addition to the new powers over welfare guaranteed by the Smith Agreement, Scottish Labour has also called for housing benefit to be fully devolved to Scotland so it would make sense for the Tory-led coalition to pause the roll out of UC until these powers are transferred to the Scottish Parliament.” Ms Baillie said a Labour government would ‘guarantee’ a job for every young person who is jobless for a year.