Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what representations he has received on the application of universal credit criteria for those housed in temporary accommodation.

We have listened to concerns from Local Authorities and have announced that from April 2018 any new claims for Universal Credit for Claimants in Temporary Accommodation will have their housing costs met through Housing Benefit. This includes all temporary accommodation, not just Emergency Temporary Accommodation. Existing claimants in Temporary Accommodation on Universal Credit will also move to Housing Benefit.

This measure is expected to help Local Authorities, who currently see a significant funding shortage when they are placing people into Temporary and emergency accommodation in Universal Credit Full Service areas.