Universal Credit

Kate Green Excerpts

Thursday 23rd November 2017 Commons Chamber

[Mr Gauke]

We will have that guidance out in December, so we will be moving quickly on that. This is designed for those who have previously been on housing benefit with an alternative payment arrangement. Of course where work coaches, as they engage with new claimants, identify that the right approach is for an alternative payment arrangement to exist—in other words, the money goes to the landlord—they can take that forward.

[Kate Green (Stretford and Urmston) (Lab)]

I very much welcome the announcement about the housing benefit run-on, and I was even more pleased to hear the Secretary of State say it would not be an advance but an award. Can he say why it will not be available to those who have not previously been in receipt of housing benefit? As he will know, rent arrears have been one of the features of UC that has caused the most difficulty and high levels of debt.

[Mr Gauke]

This housing benefit transitional payment is designed for those people who have previously been on housing benefit, so a claim is already there. That is why we have done this, but may I thank the hon. Lady for her welcome for this policy?