More women would be helped into work if there were "far reaching" changes to the Government's flagship welfare reforms, according to a new study.

The Resolution Foundation said it supported the core principles behind Universal Credit, which aims to simplify the system by merging working-age benefits and tax credits into a single payment, but added that action was needed to tackle "flaws".

A nine-month review by the think tank said changes should be made which would disproportionately benefit women, such as by introducing a new work allowance for second earners in families.

Work allowances for single parents who rent a home should be significantly increased, while childcare support for working parents with children under the age of three should rise to 95% of total costs, it was argued.

Universal Credit should focus more on helping people escape low pay, while administration costs could be saved if council tax support was incorporated into the new system, said the report.

The system should also be more user-friendly, while bureaucracy should be cut, according to the foundation.

Senior analyst David Finch said: "Universal Credit holds many advantages over the current benefit system, but it hasn't caught up with big changes in the UK's labour market, such as rising in-work poverty.

"The Government's flagship welfare reform programme needs a reboot so that it can deal with the big labour market challenges of the next decade and beyond, such as helping people escape low pay, rather than trying to tackle the problems of the past."

The suggested reforms would help between 180,000 and 460,000 more people into work, the report claimed.

A Department for Work and Pensions spokesman said: "Universal Credit is simplifying the welfare system to make work pay, and research shows that it's getting claimants back into work faster and helping them earn more.

"Our reforms under Universal Credit also make it easier to start work if you're a parent, with increased help towards registered childcare costs, no matter how many hours you work.

"When fully rolled out, Universal Credit will make three million people better off with a £7 billion boost to the economy every year."