MPs Urge Government To Delay Universal Credit Rollout

David Gauke, the work and pensions secretary, has been urged by 31 MPs to delay the expansion of the new universal credit benefit system to stop their constituents suffering severe hardship over Christmas. The group has called on the government to put off the latest rollout of universal credit until the new year, because people would not be able to afford delays to their first benefit payments over the festive period. Ministers are planning to accelerate the introduction of universal credit to about 50 new areas. But the 31 MPs, whose constituencies will be affected, said it would cause misery for thousands of new claimants who may not get their first payments for up to seven weeks after applying. Read more on the Observer website.