Birmingham's Labour deputy leader has accused the Government of rushing the roll-out of the controversial universal credit benefits system to get it up and running in the city ahead of the general election.
Coun Ian Ward made his claim as the city council announced that Birmingham's unemployed would start claiming universal credit next month, a full year ahead of schedule.
But both the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the Conservatives say the roll-out is going as planned.
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At first, universal credit will only be offered to single people who are making fresh claims, such as those who have recently lost their job, from April 13. These are the easiest and least risky claims to process.
Universal credit, which aims to unify six benefits, including jobseeker's allowance and housing benefit, in a single payment, has been fraught with difficulties and delays since it was announced five years ago.
The Department for Work and Pensions estimates there will be 17,000 claimants in the first, of which about 7,000 will be successful - the rest will be redirected to existing benefits.
Coun Ian Ward (Lab Shard End) said: "We had been initially told that universal credit was coming to Birmingham in 2016 but the Government, for some unknown reason, has fast-tracked the city to April of this year.
"Only the simplest of claims will qualify at first. There are plans to roll it out to couples and families in future, after the general election.
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"This is so Iain Duncan Smith can say the roll-out has started ahead of the general election and that he is meeting the promises made when he first came into office."
Coun Ward added that, although the universal credit is a DWP project, the council would be able to offer advice and help and in some cases crisis support - especially as claims are paid a month in arrears and some may have to wait five weeks for a payment to arrive.
"As was the case when the spare room subsidy and council tax reforms were imposed upon us, we will do everything within our powers to support some of the most vulnerable people in the city.
"This change will possibly be confusing and daunting for some - so we will be using the first-rate knowledge and experience of our benefits service staff to ensure this central government reform can be introduced smoothly for those in need."
But the Conservatives have hit back at claims.
Rachel Maclean, Conservative prospective MP for Northfield, said: "These allegations are nonsense. We have been completely transparent about the roll-out plans for universal credit and announced the beginning of national roll-out in September last year.
"Universal credit is reforming the broken welfare system we inherited from Labour. It's already transforming lives for the better, with claimants moving into work faster and earning more than under the old system.
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"Councillor Ward should be welcoming the fact that it's coming to Birmingham, rather than trying to play political point scoring games."
A Department for Work and Pension spokesman said: "Councils have known about the plans for universal credit since last autumn when we announced that national roll-out would begin in February 2015."
He added that, by next year, it would be available at every Jobcentre in the country.