Universal Credit

Baroness Couttie Excerpts

Monday 26th November 2018 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Buscombe]

My Lords, it is important to stress that claimants can request a split payment during a face-to-face meeting and a phone call could be made away from the perpetrator of domestic abuse or online, via the journal. Research carried out for the department suggests that only 2% of married couples and 7% of cohabiting couples keep their finances completely separate. Indeed, a number of legacy payments have always been paid as one payment.

[Baroness Couttie (Con)]

My Lords, many people who have experienced domestic abuse would find it extremely traumatic to relate the details of what has happened to them. Does the DWP require details of the abuse before they can receive split payments?

[Baroness Buscombe]

My Lords, that is a very helpful question—