Almost HALF of people on the Tories' flagship benefit system are struggling to pay bills - according to an official government survey.

The admission is buried in an 82-page research report that was quietly slipped online today while MPs are away from Parliament.

Charities demanded reform after the shock findings about Universal Credit, which rolls six benefits into one monthly payment.

Tory ministers boast "modern and flexible" UC is fairer and will ensure work pays.

More than 800,000 new claimants are already on the benefit and existing claimants will start being moved to it from 2019.

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Yet the survey reveals 44% of claimants were either "falling behind" with bills, keeping up but facing a "constant struggle", or "experiencing real financial difficulties" three months into their UC claim.

That figure reduced by just a fraction to 40% for people who were eight or nine months into their claim.

A further 28% to 32% of claimants added they struggled with bills "from time to time" - leaving just a quarter who had no difficulties at all.

In one group, a third of claimants admitted they took money from friends and family, while 11% applied for a bank overdraft.

Others were forced to use charities, payday loan firms and doorstep lenders, the survey confirmed.

Meanwhile just over a third (35-36%) were in arrears on housing costs.

And for almost half of those people (44%), the arrears had got bigger by the time they were eight or nine months into their claim.

Child Poverty Action Group chief executive Alison Garnham said the figures "show Universal Credit is a dismal failure."

(Image: Jack Taylor)

"It is clear that there are still many people who months into their claim, are being left with too little to live on," she said.

"Universal Credit once had strong poverty-reducing potential but big funding reductions have meant it is failing to achieve its original aims.

"Many of its design faults have been allowed to go uncorrected.

"Unless funding for Universal Credit is restored and its design re-visited, this once flagship benefit will continue to fail."

The survey involving 4,202 people was carried out by IFF research for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) between March and September last year.

(Image: Getty)

It questioned 2,194 people in a first wave, 931 of whom offered to be re-questioned for a second wave. A further 1,422 claimants were selected for the second wave alone.

The survey also found almost half of claimants (43%) needed help or support working out how to register their UC claim online.

Authors admitted there is also "scope to improve knowledge of UC" after only 51% knew every hour they work will leave them better off.

But the survey also said there was "evidence of positive employment outcomes" after the proportion in paid work rose from 23% at the start of a claim to 40% eight months in.

The DWP said: “The survey shows that the vast majority of claimants are comfortable managing their money with nearly seven out of ten (67 per cent) claimants saying they felt confident managing their Universal Credit payments.

“It was carried out between March and September 2017 and relates to a point in time prior to the changes announced at the autumn budget.

"Since then our improvements include the abolition of waiting days, making 100% advance payments available from day one, and introducing two weeks additional housing cost support for people joining Universal Credit from Housing Benefit.

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"The evidence in this report was used to support the introduction of these changes.

“Furthermore, we are also investing up to £200m to provide budgeting advice and digital support to those who need it”.