Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Written Statement of 27 April 2018, HCWS653, whether she plans to backdate awards of tax credits and universal credit to claimants who will become eligible for that support under the proposed changes announced in that statement.

Extending the existing exceptions for these children will require regulatory change via the negative procedure. The Department for Work and Pensions will bring regulations forward as soon as possible in relation to Universal Credit, alongside Child Tax Credit regulations to be brought forward by HM Treasury.

The Department for Work and Pensions is working closely with HM Treasury and HMRC to consider how best to achieve the operational changes in order to implement this extension as soon as possible and will make further announcements at the appropriate time.