UNIVERSAL Credit is set to be rolled out in Blackburn next month as part of the government’s benefits restructure.

The new scheme will incorporate income related jobseeker’s allowance, income related employment support allowance, housing benefit, working tax credit, child tax credit and income support.

The main changes include the credit will be paid directly to one person in the household each month, can only be claimed online.

A big change will see rent, which will be included in the Universal Credit payment, become the responsibility of the claimant to pay their landlord.

Single people and couples with no dependent children can apply for the new credit if they meet all the criteria set by the Department for Work and Pensions.

According to Child Poverty Action Group figures, around 16,000 families claim tax credits and a proportion of those will be able to claim Universal Credit.

Cllr Andy Kay, deputy leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, executive member for resources, had concerns about the new scheme.

He said: “It will be a bit of a disaster.

“One of the problems is it's such a new system they cannot say it is efficient.

“Residents will have to wait five weeks for their first payments to come in, it is not right.

“It is putting people deliberately in debt.

“People with very low incomes having to wait five weeks for their first payment will put them in very difficult circumstances.”

Hyndburn will also see Universal Credit this month, it was rolled out in Burnley in May last year and it will be introduced in the Ribble Valley, Pendle and Rossendale in November.

Lancashire County Council figures showed as of November last year, as part of a trial roll out, 3,431 people in Burnley, 1,085 in Pendle, 284 in Ribble Valley, 2,419 in Blackburn with Darwen and 953 people from Rossendale used Universal Credit.

Alison Garnham, Child Poverty Action Group’s chief executive, said: “When the local roll-out of Universal Credit is complete there will be around 29,600 Blackburn children in a household dependent on it so it’s really important that the design, implementation and delivery are right.

“There have been well-publicised problems in these early days for Universal Credit but ministers have said they are taking ‘a test and learn’ approach, so we hope people will tell their MP if they have any difficulty at all with their claim.

“There is a national helpline and local CABs may also be able to help.”

During a debate in the House of Commons last year, Burnley’s MP, Julie Cooper, described Universal Credit as ‘punishing families’.