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Amid continuing stories of families losing money in the switch to Universal Credit, a group of MPs has criticised the DWP for failing in its commitments.

One single mum was given a Universal Credit payment of £0.00 after a mix-up over the way her earnings were reported by her employer.

Another said she was forced to turn vegetarian and rely on foodbanks to feed her three kids.

MPs on the Commons Work and Pensions Committee have now revealed the scale of the problem.

They say benefit claimants are being faced with a sudden drop in income - and no way back to their old benefits - when they go on to Universal Credit.

The committee said many claimants saw a fall in their entitlement when they moved to UC with an average loss of £59 a week.

That equates to roughly £236 a month or £3,000 a year - considerable sums for those on a low income or who are not working at all.

(Image: shared content unit)

The groups affected include families with a disabled child who stood to lose £30 a week, while some disabled claimants faced a loss of £70 a month.

The committee said the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) had done nothing to stop people being transferred prematurely, even if they lost out as a result.

The committee said: "By the department's own admission, this can leave claimants in some cases with substantial losses in income, unable to return to legacy benefits.

"While it is welcome that the department has said it will compensate claimants who move to UC following incorrect advice from its staff, this commitment does not go far enough."

The committee also highlighted the "cruel effect" of the Government's policies on bereaved claimants who were immediately required to transfer to UC on the death of a partner.

"It is inconceivable that, at a time of considerable grief and distress, the department expects claimants who have just lost their partner to immediately claim UC and grapple with a process which by all accounts is often extremely complicated," it said.

"We urge the department to show these people some compassion."

Committee chairman Frank Field said: "In the history of humankind, has there ever been an example of a Government introducing a fundamental welfare reform and none of its employees being able to tell if it will leave people better or worse off?

"The UC application page needs to come with a health warning."

He said anyone who lost out should be be compensated.

(Image: PA)

A DWP spokeswoman said: "Universal Credit helps people into work faster than the old system and provides targeted support.

"Around one million disabled households will gain an average of £100 more a month, and changes to work allowances mean 2.4 million households will be up to £630 per year better off."

The DWP has repeatedly promised that claimants would not lose financially when they move to UC through a process known as 'managed migration' which is first being trialled in Harrogate this summer.

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At present, those on the old 'legacy' benefits being replaced by Universal Credit have had no choice but to move across if their circumstances change, in a process called 'natural migration.'

This is usually when they are no longer working, but also applies in situations such as when they change address or have another child.

The next step is for everyone else on the old benefits to move to UC even if their circumstances have not changed.

(Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Work and Pensions Secretary Amber Rudd has given an assurance that those who are forced on to Universal Credit under this upcoming 'managed migration' would not lose out.

Ms Rudd confirmed that a pilot scheme testing the changeover for "no more than 10,000 claimants" is set to begin this month in Harrogate.

She said the pilot could be extended to further sites as it progresses.

But shadow work and pensions secretary Margaret Greenwood said UC is causing "real hardship" and expressed fears people with severe disabilities migrating onto UC could end up missing out on payments.

Ms Rudd replied: "I am absolutely committed to ensuring that the managed migration is handled in such a way that nobody loses their benefits."