PROBLEMS with universal credit go “much deeper” than claimants having to wait six weeks for first payments, public service union PCS said yesterday after the government was urged to reduce the wait to four weeks.

PCS, whose members include jobcentre staff, cautiously welcomed the recommendation from the work and pensions select committee to reduce the waiting time, but said that additional problems with the reforms means the roll-out should be “suspended immediately.”

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka pointed out that the impact on claimants has not been fully looked into and more staff will need to be recruited and trained before universal credit takes over from the current system.

He added: “The misery being inflicted by the government’s mishandling of this disastrous programme must be stopped and the full roll-out should be suspended immediately.

“The government’s arrogant refusal to listen to its own staff, experts, charities, those affected and even its own MPs shows their aim is not to help people but to cynically cut support from those who need it most.”