Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to assist households facing debt as a result of social security delays.

The policy intention is that claimants receive the first payment 5 weeks after their date of entitlement (6 weeks if waiting days are served). The assessment period runs for a full calendar month from the date of entitlement, and the UC pay date will be 7 calendar days after the end of the assessment period. This mirrors the world of work and allows for a 1 month period in which to gather information about a claimants’ earnings. Advances and budgeting support are available to support claimants during this period. Advances can provide up to 50% of a claimant’s indicative award straight away.

Data published on 2 October 2017 shows that, in June 2017 81% of new Universal Credit households received their first payment in full and on time. Across the whole of Universal Credit 92% of all households received full payment on time.

Our internal data shows that for those cases where full payment has not been made, around a sixth have not signed their Claimant Commitment or passed identity checks and the others have outstanding verification issues, e.g. housing, self-employed earnings and child-care costs.