Thousands of people in Leeds are struggling to make Universal Credits claims.
The highly controversial benefit was fully rolled out across the city in October, and Leeds City Council says that while it is 'too early to determine any large scale impacts' it has identified a number of problems.
A new council report states 'significant numbers of customers are requiring assisted digital support' to make claims and many are struggling to manage their claims online, even with support.
The report also says vulnerable people and those with complex needs are 'often finding it difficult to get the right support in order to deal with their claim', while many low income individuals are confused about which benefit they should claim for.
There are now more than 10,000 people in Leeds claiming Universal Credit, which has replaced six benefits including Housing Benefit and Income Support.
Anyone (including existing claimants) who submits a new claim for one of those six benefits will be told to claim for Universal Credit, but existing claimants who don't submit a fresh claim will stay on their old benefits until being told otherwise.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DwP) plans to move all of those claimants onto Universal Credit by 2023.
A number of other complaints were made by claimants when the benefit was first rolled out, but the DwP says it is taking steps to address them.
One of the main complaints is that people are being penalised with a reduction of up to 40 per cent under the current system, but from 2019 reductions will be capped at 30 per cent.
Out of all the areas of Leeds, Harehills and Gipton has the highest number of claimants, with 868, while Garforth and Swillington is home to the least (44).
Leeds City Council's executive board will discuss the impact of the Universal Credit roll out at a meeting on Wednesday, April 17.
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