蜜芽传媒

The Work and Pensions Secretary has confirmed the schedule for the rollout of Universal Credit has been amended and "people need to be reassured they do not have to wait five weeks to get support".

David Gauke also told the World at One new claimants in mid-December can get "an advance worth 50% to tide them through the Christmas period".

He added that "if resources allowed" the government would "want to consider" further reducing Universal Credit's taper rate - the amount that people will have to pay back if they work extra hours.

(Photo: David Gauke. Credit: AFP/Getty Images)