Young people will not be immune to a huge amount of pressure faced by cash-strapped families trying to cope with Universal Credit.

That’s the view of Y Sort It, the West Dunbartonshire youth charity, which fears the controversial new system being rolled out in the area today, Wednesday, will have a detrimental impact on people’s mental health.

Gillian Kirkwood, Y Sort It manager, told the Post: “The roll out of Universal Credit is going to have a massive impact on not only the young people we support but their families.

“Not only will they struggle financially, due to delayed payments or errors, this will place a huge amount of pressure on families resulting in poor mental health, such as anxiety, stress and depression.

“We are here to listen and offer any support we can to any young person that is concerned and worried about the implementation of Universal credit.”

Y Sort It, which supports young people aged 10 to 25, is one of several groups and agencies offering support to people worried about how their benefits will be affected.

The new system which has encountered a barrage of criticism in areas where it has already been launched, is going “full service” in at Jobcentres in Clydebank and Dumbarton from today.

It comes amid concerns about delayed payments and confusion over the online application service, which has seen families left with no income forced to turn to food banks.

Various agencies in West Dunbartonshire have been working together to minimise any hardship caused when claimants switch to the new system.

A spokeswoman for West Dunbartonshire Council told the Post: “The council continues to work in partnership with a range of agencies including the DWP, Citizens Advice Bureau, housing and third sector organisations to ensure residents and staff are supported for the roll out of Universal Credit full service.

“We will provide every assistance possible to those most affected, including offering digital support, budgeting skills and employability services to ensure people know how to make and maintain a claim when the new system comes into place.”

West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare is one of the agencies gearing up in anticipation of extra demands from people struggling to cope. Foodshare trustee Clair Coyle told the Post that while she was wary of putting a figure on any increase, she agreed there would be one.

She continued: “We are hopeful we will be able to deal with the increase when it comes, but it is impossible to say until it actually happens.”

A DWP spokesman said: “Universal Credit is working for the vast majority who claim it.”

For further information, advice or support, residents should contact Working4U on 01389 776855 or email wrmas@west-dunbarton.gov.uk.