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The Tory government has been accused of "playing people for fools" with a "misleading" advert about Universal Credit .

The image on Twitter last week boasted the six-in-one benefit "mirrors the world of work" because it is paid monthly and "paid to you like wages".

But Frank Field, chairman of the Commons Work and Pensions Committee, claimed these statements were misleading.

That is because many low-paid workers are given their wages weekly, not monthly, Mr Field said.

UC is also paid to one representative of the household - not each person. Activists have warned this policy worsens domestic abuse.

Mr Field has now written to complain about the letter to UC programme director Neil Couling in the Department for Work and Pensions.

His letter demands to know "how misleading advertising such as this is compatible with, and supportive of, the Department’s commitment to transparent and open communication with claimants and stakeholders over Universal Credit."

Mr Field claimed: "These so-called “facts” about Universal Credit are nothing of the kind.

(Image: PA)

"Large numbers of low-paid workers are not paid monthly. And no one has their wages paid to their partner.

"The only 'mirror' here is the looking glass that Ministers and officials have surely stepped through, into Wonderland.

""They need urgently to set about rebuilding trust in our benefits system, by giving Universal Credit the flexibility it needs to reflect the reality of how people live, work, and budget – not playing them for fools with disingenuous ads like these."

The strongly-worded attack comes weeks after Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey accused critics of peddling "fake news".

DWP officials insisted three quarters of workers are paid monthly.

(Image: iStockphoto)

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But Mr Field pointed to a 2011 DWP briefing that said the proportion paid monthly drops to 51% for those who earn under £10,000 a year.

"More recent data... shows that of those earning under £12,000 per year, 19% are paid weekly, 5% two-weekly, and 16% four-weekly," the independent MP added.

A DWP spokesman said: “We’ve received Mr Field’s letter and will respond in due course.

“The statements made by DWP on social media about Universal Credit are accurate.

"Figures from the ONS show that the majority of jobs are paid monthly, and Universal Credit is paid as a single payment into a nominated account, the same as wages.”