There are “concerns” about how the roll-out of a new benefits system will hit the most vulnerable in Bromley, according to councillors.

The looming arrival of Universal Credit was raised by new Labour councillor Simon Jeal at a meeting on Wednesday (May 30).

Universal Credit is designed to help people on a low income and those who are out of work with their living costs.

It has replaced individual benefits for Child Tax Credit, Housing, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, and Working Tax Credit.

Cllr Graham Arthur, portfolio holder for resources, commissioning and contracts management,  set out how the council was preparing for the change.

He said: “Universal credit full service starts in Bromley on July 25. Preparations have been ongoing with the job centre plus to ensure residents will receive the support needed.

“Bromley Council has an ongoing partnership with Bromley CAB to provide budgeting support to those on Universal Credit to ensure they can pay their rent and do not get into debt, and there is increased provision for money and debt advice within the housing department as part of ongoing homeless prevention work.”

The councillor added that an advice hub was being created at the job centre to help people with the change, and that there will be advice events for landlords too.

Cllr Jeal responded with further concerns about the roll-out, which has had a mixed reception across the country.

He said: “Other council’s where the roll-out have occurred has seen an increases in evictions, people going into severe debt and becoming homeless. Given the large volume of residents in the private rented sector on insecure tenancies, how will the council ensure this does not happen in Bromley?”

The complexity of the change elsewhere in the country has lead to some claimants struggling to adapt to the new system, having applications refused and problems with adjusting budgets.

Cllr Arthur said he shared concerns about the new system, and said some changes had been made through consultation periods.

He said: “Universal Credit is coming. It has all party support – there’s no point us being in denial about it, we just have to be as prepared as we can and I think we have been.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Further concerns were raised by Cllr Kevin Brookes, who said the change would hit society’s most vulnerable the hardest, and could potentially put them at risk of debt.

Cllr Arthur said: “It is an area of great concern – the thing we have to do is to organise a briefing session in July to walk through certain cases – that is something we can arrange.”