All out-of-work benefits and tax credits could be scrapped and replaced with a single payment as part of a “radical” shake-up of the welfare system, according to Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith.
One of the options under consideration is to combine elements of the current income-related benefits and tax credit systems, bringing the 50 or so out-of-work and in-work benefits into a single “universal credit”.
We sent our reporters out onto the street to find out what you thought about the introduction of a single benefit payment.
 | “I wish this Government would stop simplifying everything, and just bite the bullet and get a Chancellor capable of understanding all the numbers just as they are.” Jane Williams, Activist |
 | “A single payment sounds good. Especially if they push through plans to award it only to people who’ve been out of work for seventy-five years and are accompanied by both parents.” Tim Taylor, Accountant |
 | “So let me get this straight, under the new system I’ll only have to lie about my circumstances ONCE? Where’s the catch?” David Knowles, Cash Operator |
 | “Well one payment sounds lovely, so long as that one payment is really, really, big. I’ll admit it’s been a hassle collecting twenty or thirty small ones each week on my way to the bookies.” Audrey James, Gambler |
