THE city council in Oxford has urged the Government to to halt the roll out of Universal Credit.

Oxford City Council penned the letter to the Department of Work and Pensions to express its concerns over the controversial new benefit's impact on vulnerable people.

It follows a motion passed unanimously earlier this month highlighting the 'desperate impact' of Universal Credit on claimants.

The letter urges the DWP to stop the rollout and launch an immediate review into the needs of those claiming the benefit.

Councillors Susan Brown and Marie Tidball also call on the government to reduce administrative burdens and ensure that councils are adequately funded to provide support for Universal Credit claimants.

The rollout of Universal Credit’s digital service to couples and families making new benefit claims began in Oxford last October.

Universal Credit replaces housing benefit, child tax credit, income support , income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance and other benefits into a single payment - but it has been plagued by problems since its implementation.