News story

Civil/crime news: Universal Credit roll-outs to all jobcentres

Roll-out of Universal Credit to be extended across whole of England and Wales.

The passporting benefit known as Universal Credit is now to be rolled out to jobcentres and local authority areas across all of England and Wales.

Details of the timetable for roll-out can be found on the GOV.UK website – see below.

It is important for providers in the areas affected to know because it affects the assessment of a client’s eligibility for legal aid.

What is Universal Credit?

Universal Credit simplifies the benefits system by bringing together a range of working-age benefits into a single, streamlined payment.

The roll-out of Universal Credit began in April 2013 and has been introduced into specific geographical areas over time.

Universal Credit has been added to the list of legal aid passporting benefits.

Summary guidance on how this affects your handling of civil and criminal cases is available in the ‘Universal Credit and Legal Aid Means Testing’ guidance document – see below.

Further information

GOV.UK:

Universal Credit national expansion – see timetable for roll-out

Civil legal aid: means testing – download guidance document

Criminal legal aid: means testing – download guidance document

Updates to this page

Published 19 February 2015