Universal Credit

Debate between Christian Matheson and Esther McVey

Monday 5th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Ms McVey]

I will go back to the Department now and ensure that the right hon. Gentleman gets a reply to that letter.

[Christian Matheson (City of Chester) (Lab)]

Chester was an early roll-out area for universal credit, so let me tell the Secretary of State how the migration has been going. A constituent of mine lost her husband; he died suddenly leaving her with a primary school-aged child. She was on a widow’s pension and tax credits, and was just about managing, but she was then told to go on to universal credit. She is now £250 a month worse off and she is going to lose her house. My question to the Secretary of State is this: can she have her money back?

[Ms McVey]

No, but as the hon. Gentleman and I live only up the road from each other, let us meet and see this person and see what we can do.