A BENEFITS change which will affect thousands of people in Oxford from this month is a ‘disaster waiting to happen’, a charity has warned.

The government is set to roll out changes to the way Universal Credit is paid but Citizens Advice Oxford and the city's MPs have urged a halt.

Under the plan Universal Credit will replace a host of benefits and claimants will receive a single monthly payment – but there are worries about how long payments have taken to be processed.

Citizens Advice Oxford’s chief executive Al Bell said: “Universal Credit is deeply flawed and expanding it in Oxford is a disaster waiting to happen.

“We’re already helping many people across Oxford who are having problems with it and we are concerned this will rise significantly.”

Families and disabled people will  receive payments through Universal Credit in Oxford, Vale of White Horse and South Oxfordshire districts. Until this month, just single people there were receiving that payment.

By 2022 it is estimated it will be paid to an estimated 12,000 households in Oxford East and another 6,000 in Oxford West and Abingdon.

Ms Bell added: “While Universal Credit is a good idea in principle, the system as it stands now is not able to properly support those in Oxford who need it and could even leave them worse off.

“That’s why we want the government to pause its plan for roll-out so it has time to fix the underlying problems and make sure that everyone has access to the support they need to adapt to the changes."

Other changes will be rolled out to Cherwell and West Oxfordshire districts next month.

Across the country, it is estimated that 52 per cent of all families with children in the UK will claim Universal Credit, along with six in 10 households where an adult is disabled or has a long-term health condition.

Oxford East’s MP Anneliese Dodds said: “I have asked for the roll out to be halted and that is now Labour Party policy. A number of us have tried to stop what seems to be a headlong rush into a system which has not been tested properly.”

While Oxford West and Abingdon's MP Layla Moran said: “It is now clear that the system for claiming Universal Credit is a shambles.

“Some families wait 12 weeks or more, pushing many into rent arrears or a spiral of debt that is almost impossible to escape, as their income under Universal Credit is too low to pay off the loan.”

A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman said: “The best way to help people pay their rent is to support them into employment and under Universal Credit people are moving into work faster and staying in work longer than the old system.”

Benefits which will be included in Universal Credit are: Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance and Working Tax Credit.

For anyone who needs helps, Citizens Advice Oxford's advice line is 03444 111 444.