Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's policy is on waiting times for universal credit payment advances for (a) new universal credit claims, (b) universal credit benefit transfer claims and (c) change of circumstances claims.

Universal Credit advances are processed at the point at which they are requested. However, information on the time taken between application for and receipt of universal credit payment advances is not routinely recorded. Therefore, results could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.