Prime Minister Theresa May has again rejected calls by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to "pause" the roll-out of universal credit amid growing fears it is causing hardship.
In a vote, MPs backed a pause after Tory MPs were told to abstain. The outcome is not binding on the government however although Corbyn said ministers must "act on the clearly expressed will of Parliament" and halt the roll out of universal credit.
Universal credit, which rolls six working-age benefits into a single payment, is designed to make the system simpler and ensure no-one faces a situation where they would be better off claiming benefits than working.
May said she had listened to criticism of the universal credit helpline charges however and has therefore announced that all hotline charges will now be scrapped
May said it was "right" to drop the charges, which can be valued at up to 55p a minute.











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