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Written Question
Universal Credit
Thursday 10th July 2025

Asked by: Paul Waugh (Labour (Co-op) - Rochdale)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the five-week wait for Universal Credit on (a) debt and (b) poverty levels.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

We are reviewing Universal Credit, to make sure it is doing the job we want it to. We are committed to considering how we can support people during the Initial Assessment Period, often referred to as the 5-week wait, before they receive their first payment as part of the review and will provide an update in due course.

Published research on debt whilst on UC can be found here: Impacts of external debt for indebted Universal Credit claimants - GOV.UK; DWP ad hoc research - GOV.UK and the latest Universal Credit deductions statistics are published here Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 10 April 2025 - GOV.UK

Division Vote (Commons)
9 Jul 2025 - Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - View Vote Context
Paul Waugh (LAB) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 377 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 103 Noes - 416
Division Vote (Commons)
9 Jul 2025 - Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - View Vote Context
Paul Waugh (LAB) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 356 Labour No votes vs 8 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 35 Noes - 469
Division Vote (Commons)
9 Jul 2025 - Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - View Vote Context
Paul Waugh (LAB) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 331 Labour No votes vs 47 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 149 Noes - 334
Division Vote (Commons)
9 Jul 2025 - Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - View Vote Context
Paul Waugh (LAB) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 377 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 175 Noes - 401
Division Vote (Commons)
9 Jul 2025 - Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - View Vote Context
Paul Waugh (LAB) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 330 Labour Aye votes vs 37 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 335 Noes - 135
Division Vote (Commons)
9 Jul 2025 - Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - View Vote Context
Paul Waugh (LAB) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 364 Labour No votes vs 7 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 105 Noes - 370
Division Vote (Commons)
9 Jul 2025 - Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - View Vote Context
Paul Waugh (LAB) voted Aye - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 333 Labour Aye votes vs 47 Labour No votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 336 Noes - 242
Division Vote (Commons)
9 Jul 2025 - Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill - View Vote Context
Paul Waugh (LAB) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 333 Labour No votes vs 35 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 130 Noes - 443
Division Vote (Commons)
8 Jul 2025 - Football Governance Bill [Lords] - View Vote Context
Paul Waugh (LAB) voted No - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 333 Labour No votes vs 0 Labour Aye votes
Vote Tally: Ayes - 178 Noes - 338