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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Annie Gouk & Briana Millett

DWP reveals how many people are on Universal Credit in Bristol

New figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have revealed 15,396 people in Bristol were on the benefits system in September.

It means an extra 934 individuals across the city were put on to Universal Credit in September alone.

In August, there were 14,462 people in Bristol on Universal Credit.

The figure has also soared in the last year - in September 2018, there were just 4,066 people on this type of benefit.

The full roll out of the system is set to happen next year, although the date keeps being pushed back.

However, in the meantime anyone making a fresh claim for benefits or those whose circumstances change will still be moved on to the scheme.

The system was first introduced in 2013, and was intended to replace six “legacy” benefits, including unemployment benefit, tax credits and housing benefit.

What is Universal Credit

It was supposed to be implemented across the UK by 2017, but management failures, IT blunders and design faults mean it has already fallen at least six years behind schedule.

The system is now not expected to be fully operational until December 2023.

There have been a wealth of problems caused by the new single benefit.

As well as leaving claimants with nothing to live on during the transition period - which takes longer than a month - many are then finding they are then worse off than they were while on legacy benefits.

Meanwhile, flaws in the system put poorer claimants especially at heightened risk of hunger, debt and rent arrears, ill-health and homelessness.

The government has also faced several legal challenges in the High Court over the policy.

The increase in the number of people on Universal Credit in Bristol means one in every 30 people in our city are now on the scheme.

That’s slightly lower than the national average.

Across Great Britain, around 2.5 million people were on the scheme in September - up from 2.4 million in August, and working out as one in every 26 people.

For the latest news in and around Bristol, visit and bookmark Bristol Live's homepage .

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