STORMONT has been urged to delay a planned roll-out of Universal Credit in two Co Derry towns over fears it will push families into debt over Christmas.
The Magherfelt and Coleraine areas are due to switch to the new benefits system on December 13 – but the six-week application period means claimants won't receive their first payment until January.
SDLP deputy leader Nichola Mallon has written to the Department for Communities (DfC) asking it to delay the roll-out because it falls over the Christmas period.
The North Belfast MLA urged the department to "show some compassion", saying that to refuse would be an "unashamed act of cruelty".
Universal Credit, which merges six benefits into one new payment, is being introduced gradually across the north and Britain.
There have been calls for its suspension amid concerns that delays in people receiving their first payment are pushing some claimants into rent arrears.
Ms Mallon said: "The roll-out of Universal Credit in Magherfelt and Coleraine planned for December 13 will mean individuals and families will not receive their first payment until after Christmas.
"They can take up the option of a loan to carry them over the festive period, but Christmas is a difficult time already for many families and the last thing they need is a government department pushing them into debt.
"The date of this roll out is purely an administrative decision. All we are asking is that it is delayed to give families, especially those families with children, a better chance to have a debt-free Christmas.
"To push on ahead and refuse this reasonable request will be an unashamed act of cruelty."
DfC said the period of five-to-six weeks before the first payment is "bound by legislation and is therefore not caused by a delay in administration".
A spokeswoman said advance payments are available, which would be recovered from future Universal Credit payments over several months.
"When a claimant submits a claim to Universal Credit and verifies their identity, they will be advised that if they need financial support until their first Universal Credit payment, they can apply for an advance payment," she said.
