Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the option to split universal credit payments between adults in a household was decided; and what the process is for deciding how the constituent parts of universal credit are to be allocated to each person.

In very exceptional circumstances, payment of Universal Credit can be divided between two members of the household. This is an Alternative Payment Arrangement known as a Split Payment. Split Payments are to prevent hardship to the claimant and their family and should only be considered in certain specific situations, such as domestic violence, or where financial abuse occurs and one partner mismanages the Universal Credit payment. Payment Arrangements have always been available in Universal Credit.

Alternative Payment Arrangements can be considered at any point during the Universal Credit claim. They may be identified at the outset by the Jobcentre Plus Work Coach, or during it. They can also be triggered and put in place by information received from the claimant, their representative, their caseworker or their landlord.

The larger percentage of a Split Payment will be allocated to the person with primary caring responsibilities, such as child care. This is to ensure the health and well-being of the majority of the household.

Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/662984/personal-budgeting-support-and-alternative-payment-arrangements.pdf.