Universal credit has left some families facing debt, rent arrears and eviction as a result of policy design flaws.
Experts warned UC rules requiring claimants to wait at least six weeks for a first payment were causing difficulties for many. The findings have emerged during an investigation by the Guardian, which has also found that:
- Eight out of 10 social housing tenants moved onto UC are falling into rent arrears or increasing their level of pre-existing arrears.
- Families unable to manage the regulation 42-day wait for a first payment are being sent to food banks by housing associations or local MPs.
- Some claimants are waiting as long as 60 days for an initial payment because of processing delays on top of the formal wait.
Ministers have been urged to slow down the national roll out of the new benefit system to protect vulnerable claimants.
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