Ministers told to cut wait for new benefit amid evidence it is causing debt

Report raised ‘very serious concerns’ with government over delay before first paymentMinisters are facing growing calls to slash the time welfare claimants are forced to wait before being entitled to the government’s flagship new benefit, having been warned some time ago by their own advisers that the delay is “beyond reasonable justification”.David Gauke, the work and pensions secretary, has been under pressure to slow down the roll-out of universal credit, which c