LGA responds to Universal Credit reforms

Responding to the Government’s reforms to Universal Credit to encourage more people into work, Cllr Shaun Davies, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Resources Board said:

“Everybody should have the chance to work or retrain. The labour market has changed significantly due to the pandemic, so people need joined up local support including training and careers advice to go into long-term, satisfactory employment and not just face sanctions.

“Councils also need an adequately resourced and more sustainable local welfare support system to address the underlying cost-of-living pressures, and to enable low-income households to have a secure, resilient foundation from which to progress in work.

“Using their local leadership, knowledge of the local labour market and ability to bring partners together, councils are uniquely placed to deliver a coherent, local joined-up offer to help people get back into work and training, backed up by the right funding.”