Universal Credit: Theresa May does U-turn on 55p-a-minute benefits hotline

Theresa May performed an embarrassing U-turn today by scrapping a hotline charging people up to 55p a minute for advice on welfare benefits.

The Government announced there will be a new freephone number instead to help people on the breadline.The about-turn came a week after Jeremy Corbyn challenged Mrs May over the charges during Prime Minister’s Questions — and on the day of a Commons vote on the controversial rollout of Universal Credit.

The phone announcement by Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke appeared to buy a delay in a Tory rebellion over the welfare benefit.

Mr Gauke made the concession to a committee of MPs looking into complaints that thousands of people have suffered six-week delays in getting money under the new Universal Credit system. He said: “I have decided that this will change to a freephone number over the next month.

“It has been the long-standing position to operate local line charges for benefit inquiry lines, but having reviewed this matter more widely I will be extending the freephone numbers to all of Department for Work and Pensions phone lines by the end of the year.”

It was reported that up to 25 Tories were rallying against Mrs May’s roll-out of Universal Credit, including outspoken critic MP Heidi Allen.

Last night she and two other Tory MPs, Sarah Wollaston and Johnny Mercer, were seen in Downing Street in what has been seen as a last-minute meeting with the PM on the benefits.

Mr Mercer tweeted “no chance” this morning about Labour’s call to pause the benefits extension.

This was largely seen as a sign that Mr Gauke successfully placated MPs with the freephone number.

In PMQs last week, Mr Corbyn lambasted Mrs May over the helpline, which benefit claimants say is costing them up to 55p a minute if they call from a mobile phone, although less on fixed lines.

Mr Gauke said the advice line was not a premium line and added that the DWP “does not make a profit” from it. Ms Allen welcomed the shift as “really great news”.