BENEFIT changes have seen council house rent arrears soar in York - and a surge in demand at the city’s foodbank.

Council statistics show the impact benefit changes are having in York, with foodbank use among people being shifted onto Universal Credit (UC) growing by almost half and rent arrears up by 20 per cent.

The data has been produced for York’s executive member for social care and health Cllr Carol Runciman, who will be urged to keep working with charities to help people hit by the changes at a meeting next week.

A report written by council staff David Walker and John Madden says the slow introduction of UC has not had a major impact in York.

“The gradual transition of customers to UC along with buoyant employment levels in York has meant that any detrimental impact on our residents has been slow in materialising in respect of our welfare benefit support.”

However, areas piloting the new scheme say the impacts are “slow to present themselves”, meaning York could see problems and the need for extra help increase over time.

UC was introduced in York in February 2017, and “full service” roll out started in September 2017.

The new system means housing costs are included in people’s UC, and this aspect has caused some problems, the report says. Bodies like Citiziens Advice York have told the council people often do not include their rent in UC claims, and end up getting behind in rent.

Tenants in around 600 of York’s 7,500 council houses are on UC, it adds, with an average debt of £420 per property. UC has seen council house debt increase by 19.8 per cent. At the same time, York foodbank’s statistics show a 49.4 per cent increase in demand from people moving on to UC between April 2017 and March this year.