Universal credit cut will come as shock for claimants, says Labour

Government accused of failing to communicate 20 reduction as many families unaware of imminent cut

Labour has accused the government of failing to prepare struggling low-income families for October's 20-a-week cut in universal credit payments after it emerged that up to 2 million claimants were unaware of the imminent reduction.

Separate surveys carried out by poverty charities indicate that between 18% and 36% of claimants did not know their income will fall by 90 a week or 1,050 a year after September - the biggest cut to social security payments since the second world war.