Today sees the beginning of a trial of the government’s new Universal Credit (UC) scheme designed to simplify the welfare system.

The scheme will be rolled out across the country over four years, starting today with the town of Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester.

It replaces income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, income support, working tax credit, child tax credit and housing benefit.

UC described by work and pensions secretary Iain Duncan Smith as “nothing less than the start of a fundamental cultural shift of the welfare system”.

“It will make it easier for people claim what they are entitled to, but more importantly, it will make it easier for people to move off benefits and into work,” he adds.