Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which categories of claimants of universal credit are entitled to claim (a) cold weather payments, (b) funeral payments and (c) the Sure Start maternity grant; and whether he plans to change those entitlements.

Universal Credit claimants are entitled to Cold Weather Payments if they have a disabled child amount in their claim, whatever their employment status. Other Universal Credit claimants will usually be entitled to Cold Weather Payments if they are not employed or self-employed and they either get a limited capability for work amount (with or without a work-related activity amount) or have a child aged under five living with them.

Universal Credit claimants may be entitled to a Funeral Expenses Payment if they are arranging a funeral in the UK, European Economic Area or Switzerland. They must meet eligibility rules including rules on their relationship to the deceased person. They may not be able to claim if there is a close relative of the deceased person who is not receiving one of the qualifying income-related benefits or tax credits.

Universal Credit claimants are usually entitled to a Sure Start Maternity Grant for their first child and there are no other children in their family. If they already have a child they may still be entitled a grant if they are expecting a multiple birth (such as twins or triplets). They may also be able to get a grant if they are adopting or becoming a surrogate parent.

We continue to keep entitlement to these benefits under review. The Government response to the consultation on reforms to the Social Fund Funeral Expenses Payments scheme, which was published on 2 November 2017, confirmed that it will proceed with its proposals to clarify the eligibility rules for that scheme.