THE reviled universal credit system is leaving hundreds of thousands of people facing hunger and hardship and needs “urgent action” from the government in its October Budget, the Trussell Trust has said today.

New research by the anti-poverty charity found that the failed system leaves almost half of its recipients running out of food and 1.6 million have been driven to use foodbanks in the last 12 months.

Universal credit was introduced by the Tory-Lib Dem government in 2013 to replace six benefit payment categories.

It includes benefits for working households whose wages are so low that they qualify for assistance.

Claimants have to undergo humiliating questioning by officials before they are granted it — and then face a five-week wait before their first payment arrives, forcing many into debt.

The Trussell Trust research found that 68 per cent of working households receiving universal credit have gone without essentials such as toiletries and prescriptions in the last six months.

The charity estimates that just over two-fifths of working households, or 46 per cent, are either behind on bills and credit repayments or are constantly struggling to keep up with them.

The trust called for “immediate relief” for victims of the system from the Labour government.

Trussell Trust chief executive Emma Revie said: “This research lays bare the stark truth about the current crisis of hardship across the UK.

“The inadequacy of universal credit means that people are being pushed to the doors of foodbanks because they simply do not have enough money for food.

“These findings show clearly that people cannot wait for an economic turnaround to improve their current situations.

“We urge the government to prioritise providing immediate relief to people facing hunger and hardship in the upcoming Budget.

“Foodbanks are facing another difficult winter, and the government must act now to avoid people being pushed further into hardship.”

Since 2010, the number of people living in poverty in Britain has increased by 1.3 million.

Layla, who needed support from foodbanks after being forced to stop working due to ill-health, said that “the benefits system needs a complete overhaul.”

A government spokesperson said: “We are taking immediate action to turn around the dire inheritance we face - with more people living in poverty now than 14 years ago.
 
“This includes extending the Household Support Fund for the most vulnerable, kickstarting work to develop a strategy to reduce child poverty, and taking the first steps towards delivering a genuine living wage for working people.
 
“We are also committed to reviewing Universal Credit as we deliver the change we need to fix the foundations of our country, grow the economy and make everyone better off.”