The Latest Breaking News from Universal Credit

People claiming benefits are being warned to stay vigilant due to an increase in benefit-related scams. Here are seven rules anyone with a Universal Credit account is being urged to follow

Benefits like Universal Credit are rising by 3.1% in April - but the rate is behind inflation, which is tipped to hit as high as 7% this Spring, making it a real-terms cut

Claimants are urged to follow strict guidelines to prevent becoming a victim of hackers and scammers who are cruelly taking advantage of people's financial struggles

Christina Goss, 62, was issued a debt of almost £20,000 by the Department of Work and Pensions after she was told she was not entitled to claim benefits despite her long-term sickness linked to severe memory loss and depression.

A shocking report on the level of poverty in the area showed that almost 7000 children were now living in poverty, and warned rising inflation and soaring energy prices would only make the problem worse.

Christina Goss, 62, from East Kilbride in Scotland, described the "nightmare" ordeal as "pure hell" after being told she had to repay £19,900 to the Government saying the demand left her suicidal

That's after she was wrongly told she had to repay £19,900 to the government during 'nightmare' ordeal

Advice has been issued amid a series of new benefit scams

SNP Work and Pensions spokesman David Linden has slammed a Universal Credit rule that forces people to consider commuting to jobs in other cities or face losing their benefits.

Christina Goss, from East Kilbride, was wrongly told she had to repay £19,900 to the government agency in September last year during a "nightmare" ordeal.

If you do not have enough to live on, you could be eligible for extra financial support from the DWP.