Money expert's Universal Credit call

An estimated 1.3 million people experiencing high levels of mental distress to receive or apply for Universal Credit, according to a charity.

The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute – founded by consumer champion Martin Lewis - released the figure as it called for urgent action to fix "design flaws" in the benefit system.

It says hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people are struggling to get support to effectively manage their Universal Credit accounts.

The charity said that, without support, many people with common symptoms of mental health problems, such as difficulty in understanding complex information and remembering appointments, are struggling with the admin required to receive payments – leaving them at risk of being sanctioned or cut off from payments.

In a survey just one 10% had managed to give permission for someone to help.

Mr Lewis, chairman of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, said: "It sounds like a scene from a spoof. People who have mental health problems, which impact their ability to fill in forms or process complex information, are allowed to nominate someone to help them with the admin needed to keep receiving benefits.

"Yet to do that, they must go through a complex process which requires them to do the exact things they need help with in the first place. If they don't manage it, they ultimately risk being sanctioned or losing all financial help.”

He added: "I don't believe this is a deliberate attempt to set people up to fail. Yet that is the practical outcome for some.”