JOB Centres in parts of North Yorkshire will be among the first to roll out Universal Credit next year.

The benefit, which merges six types of payment into one to simplify the benefits system, will be rolled out in York, Northallerton, Ryedale and Skipton from February.

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said: “We’ve already seen remarkable success, with Universal Credit claimants moving into work faster and staying in work longer.

“As part of our long-term economic plan, people in Yorkshire will have the financial security of knowing that if they work more they will earn more.

“By Spring 2015 Universal Credit will be in a third of the country’s Jobcentres as part of the wholesale transformation of the welfare state - providing the country with an economic benefit of £7 billion each year when rolled out.”

Universal Credit will be open to single jobseekers, who will then receive just one monthly payment instead of several fortnightly ones as they presently do.