Universal Credit: Major Benefits Shake-Up Begins

A massive shake-up in the UK benefits system has begun, with the first claims made for new universal credit payments.  It is designed to simplify the welfare system by bringing a number of benefits together and reducing fraud and error. Labour's shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne said "The truth is the scheme is late, over budget, the IT system appears to be falling apart and even DWP ministers admit they haven't got a clue what is going on."  But speaking to the BBC's Today programme, Mr Duncan Smith defended the new system, saying "it's quicker, it's more accurate and it's easier to understand", and said the slow pace of the roll-out was designed to "get it right, not get it early".  Read more on the BBC website.