Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to (a) ensure victim-survivors of domestic abuse can access split payments for Universal Credit and (b) minimise the risk that applying for a split payments could alert perpetrators to a victim-survivors concerns.

Split payments are considered in exceptional circumstances to provide support to vulnerable families and children from facing financial issues that could arise from a range of circumstances, particularly where one partner in the relationship may have substance abuse issues which increase risks to other members of the family unit. Whilst this can include domestic abuse, we do not believe they are particularly well-suited to such circumstances as a matter of course, but they may be used with the consent of customers.

Where split payments are being considered, risks are mitigated to the fullest extent possible to allow the Alternative Payment Arrangement to be implemented.