Asked by: Patricia Ferguson (Labour - Glasgow West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance her Department has issued on people requiring emergency assistance while they wait for a benefit claim to be assessed.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions seeks to identify individuals who have complex user needs and/or require additional support to enable them to access our benefit and services; this includes people who are vulnerable and are claiming, or need to claim, Universal Credit. We provide a tailored service that recognises those with complex needs at any point throughout their journey and aims to make appropriate support available quickly.
Advances are available to ensure those who need it can receive financial support as soon as possible. Financial support is important so customers are not reliant on high-cost lenders, but may be able instead to get some of their Universal Credit early, interest free, as an advance.