Projects to trial local services in supporting claimants who have difficulty in coping with the all computerised Universal Credit benefits system are to be set up in six areas.

Universal Credit is currently being operated in 10 Pathfinder areas. By the end of year it will be rolled out further to cover more of the north-west and expansion will continue for the following two years. By 2017 all but 700,000 claimants will be able to use the system. This revised timescale represents a delay of two years compared to original projections.

Universal credit requires all claimants to submit claims on line. Although 86 per cent of the UK population have access to the internet, the pilots have found that in the case of benefit claimants it is closer to 60 percent. Theoretically claimants can use facilities in libraries to submit claims, but they don’t visit libraries and they need support to cope with the technology and with the benefit processes.

The trials will be run by partnership between Job Centre Plus and local councils and there will also be an involvement of others involved is providing different kinds of support, such as staff from troubled families teams. Trials will start by September at the latest.

Evidence from the Pathfinder sites has revealed that co-locating all staff from different organisations in the same place is very effective in supporting vulnerable households, whether this is a Job centre, council office or a library.

The trials are expected to include an element of co-location so that to best practice for future partnerships can be explored. It is recognised that this will involve a creative approach to local organisation of estates and data to serve mutual interests.

Administrative costs of the trials, including the cost of the project manager, will be funded by the Department for Work and Pensions.