Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Jack Lopresti and Will Quince

Monday 7th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Jack Lopresti (Filton and Bradley Stoke) (Con)]

8. What steps her Department is taking to ensure that universal credit claimants who receive two regular wage payments in the same review period are not penalised.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Will Quince)]

Universal credit takes earnings into account in a way that is fair and transparent. The amount of universal credit paid reflects as closely as possible the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period, including any earnings reported by the employer during the assessment period, regardless of when they were paid.

[Jack Lopresti]

Does my hon. Friend have any plans to introduce a mechanism to universal credit that allows claimants to move their review date?

[Will Quince]

As I said, monthly assessment periods align with the way that the majority of employees are paid and allow universal credit to be adjusted each month, which means that, if a claimant’s income falls, they will not have to wait several months for a rise in their UC. We have produced guidance to help to ensure that claimants, staff and representatives are aware of the importance of reporting accurate dates and the impact on payment cycles. I am conscious that my hon. Friend has written to me. I would be happy to meet him and my hon. Friend the Member for Thirsk and Malton (Kevin Hollinrake), who also raised that issue.