Govt ‘locked in discussions’ re whether to put more money into universal credit

Times is reporting that -

Officials from the Treasury, Downing Street and the Department for Work and Pensions have been locked in discussion over whether to put more money into the universal credit programme ...

Ministers are understood to be looking at two options: reversing the changes to the work allowance, which would cost £3 billion, or reducing the “taper”, the ratio that determines how much an employee can keep of every £1 they earn.

The work and pensions department, now led by Damian Green, is understood to believe that the changes are necessary to stop “just managing” families from getting any poorer as the economy grows at a slower pace because of Brexit.

Downing Street is interested in the changes because they would help this cohort of working families, whom Theresa May has repeatedly said she wanted to help. The prime minister’s team is also likely to be attracted to the idea of reversing a change to policy that was made by Mr Osborne.

The Treasury is understood to be nervous because of the cost of making such a change.

More @ http://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/scramble-to-soften-benefit-cuts-for-working-families-wl6n3z8gr