An urgent, unanimous report published by the Commons Work and Pensions Committee said reducing the baked-in waiting period, which has been linked to problem debt, foodbank use and rent arrears, would remove “a major obstacle” blocking the potential success of the policy.

According to the report, in areas where the full service has rolled out, evidence compellingly links the wait to an increase in acute financial difficulty, with widespread reports of overwhelmed food banks, problem debt and steeply rising rent arrears and homelessness.

It added that most low-income families simply do not have the savings to see them through this extended period without resorting to desperate measures.

Committee chair Frank Field MP said: “The baked in six week wait is cruel. No one can give us any real justification for it. Such a long wait bears no relation to anyone’s working life and the terrible hardship it has been proven to cause actually makes it more difficult for people to find work.

“It is not too late for the government to avert a Christmas disaster. They must act now. This urgent recommendation, of cutting that six-week wait, is the first step from the Committee in what I hope will be a series of reports on the government’s ailing flagship welfare policy.”

According to the report, the “compelling” arguments for reducing the wait to one month include:

Heidi Allen MP, member of the committee, added: “Despite the clear support for Universal Credit, there is cross-party recognition that the six week wait does not honour the original intentions of the system.

“To truly represent the world of work, the payment cycle must mirror how the majority of people are paid i.e. monthly. Universal Credit will only be the success it deserves to be if it works with claimants to find work, and not against them.”