Families and Disabled Workers 'Biggest Losers' Under Universal Credit

Universal Credit - the government's new single benefit payment - is in danger of failing to deliver on its key objectives, according to a new report - 'Will Universal Credit Work?' - published by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) and the TUC.  The report says that although Universal Credit will improve some aspects of the benefits system, its ability to lift families out of poverty and remove barriers to working will be severely undermined by the government's wider tax credit and benefit changes - with nine in 10 families gaining nothing overall from its introduction.  The report warns that the generosity of Universal Credit is often overstated by ministers, such as Iain Duncan Smith and that for those households who do gain from its introduction many will see any benefits offset by recent social security cuts.  Download a copy of the report from the CPAG website.