Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timeframe is for people to backdate a claim for universal credit in the event that decision on the claim was delayed as a result of error on the part of her Department.

The guidance on back-dating a claim to Universal Credit is set out in the Advice for Decision Maker’s Guide at paragraphs A2043-2045: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/602462/adma2.pdf. The maximum period for back-dating is one month.

If a claim has been delayed due to error, DWP can also consider awarding an ex-gratia payment, as set out in the guide on Financial Redress for Maladministration, which can be accessed at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/671381/financial-redress-for-maladministration-dwp-staff-guide.pdf