Councils will team up with Jobcentre Plus centres and other organisations to help vulnerable claimants cope with the transition to the government's flagship Universal Credit programme, ministers announced today.

Under the local support services framework – jointly issued today by the Local Government Association (LGA) and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) – personalised support will be offered to benefit recipients needing help budget with monthly welfare payments or using online services.

The framework sets out a process for making exceptions to standardised UC payments for people with complex personal circumstances – such as drink or drug problems, mental health conditions or those at risk of domestic abuse.

All such cases for alternative arrangements would be considered on an individual basis, and could include rent payments being made directly to landlords, more frequent benefit payments within a month or splitting benefits between different household members.