Work and Pensions Secretary David Gauke faces a backlash after issuing a strongly-worded rebuttal to a report of hardship on crisis-hit Universal Credit.

Gauke defended the benefits reform on Twitter by responding to a claim from Labour MP Frank Field that a young mother would not receive any money before Christmas under the scheme.

Last Friday, Field wrote: “A mum with two young children has this week received a DWP letter. Her Income Support has stopped and she has to apply for Universal Credit.

“She has been in tears all afternoon. She will not receive any money, not even an advance, until after Xmas – ‘I literally have nothing.’”

A mum with two young children has this week received a DWP letter. Her Income Support has stopped and she has to apply for Universal Credit. She has been in tears all afternoon. She will not receive any money, not even an advance, until after Xmas – ‘I literally have nothing.’

December 15, 2017
In a tweet four days later, Gauke insisted on Tuesday night: “Wrong. In reality, she first submitted claim for UC last Thursday, received £688 in an advance payment on Monday.” 
Wrong. In reality, she first submitted claim for UC last Thursday, received £688 in an advance payment on Monday. https://t.co/gTUBwyrb0I
It is unclear how Gauke obtained the claimant’s personal information, though a senior civil servant had used Twitter to appeal to Field for more information.

Neil Couling, the Universal Credit programme director, asked the MP to message him directly.

If you can DM the claimant details I will follow up on the case. We will want to ensure that if an advance can be paid before Christmas it is. Lots of work across DWP in the coming week to make sure those due payments get them before Christmas

December 15, 2017
But in a further twist on Wednesday, Field claimed Gauke was wrong himself and that the claimant in question had not, in fact, received £688 in an advance payment this week.

“It’s great that you’ve found and helped someone in such desperate need. But the mum to whom I referred still hasn’t had an appointment,” he wrote.

“The public has ensured she has money for food and heating today. She’s still seeking help from DWP and I hope you’ll ensure this happens.”

It’s great that you’ve found and helped someone in such desperate need. But the mum to whom I referred still hasn’t had an appointment. The public has ensured she has money for food and heating today. She’s still seeking help from DWP and I hope you’ll ensure this happens.

December 20, 2017
HuffPost UK understands that the claimant and her children were forced to “huddle under blankets” on Tuesday evening, but, as a result of the furore, she has managed to secure a much speeded-up appointment with the local job centre today.

It is hoped the young mother will secure an advanced payment soon after, in time for Christmas.

Advanced payments act as loans which are repayable over six months via deductions from Universal Credit allowances. The repayment period will soon be extended to 12 months.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been approached for comment.

Flagship reform

Universal Credit is a flagship reform introduced under the Coalition government and is intended to bring together six benefits into one single monthly payment.

But problems with the system’s design and its roll out have been blamed for an increase in homelessness, and rocketing use of food banks and loan sharks.

HuffPost revealed last month that terminally ill Universal Credit claimants are assigned “work coaches” under the system.

And the government was previously forced to admit people did, in fact, need to call a costly helpline to administer their claims, before it scrapped the charges altogether.