People who call the Universal Credit helpline will no longer be charged for the calls, the Government has announced. Universal Credit helpline calls previously cost up to 55p per minute but the helpline will now be free to call. The change has come due to widespread pressure on Government from MPs and campaigners.
Theresa May was challenged over the call costs by Jeremy Corbyn during last week’s Prime Minister’s Questions. May was unable to defend or justify the call costs and was already under heavy criticism for the rollout of Universal Credit.
Jeremy Corybn Grills Theresa May About Universal Credit During PMQs
Universal Credit was formed to merge six welfare benefits payments into one. Claimants were subjected to a 6-week wait before the first payment under the Universal Credit scheme. The wait for the initial payment and other critical issues have left vulnerable people reliant on foodbanks to eat and under threat of eviction.