Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of claimants have experienced a delay in receiving their first full universal credit payment because they do not have a suitable bank account.

DWP do not collect this data, however there should be no payments of Universal Credit delayed because a claimant does not have a bank account.

A direct payment paid into a bank, building society or credit union account is the Government’s preferred way to make payments. It is the fastest, most secure and efficient way for people to receive their money, and also opens doors to other financial products and savings.

If claimants do not have a suitable bank account however, DWP would pay via an alternative method of payment (such as Post office card, via simple payments or to a third party) in order not to delay payment.