Universal Credit

(asked on 17th July 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to assist households facing financial difficulties as a result of errors or delays in the roll-out of universal credit.


Answered by
Alok Sharma Portrait
Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
This question was answered on 25th July 2018

The Department’s rollout of Universal Credit Full Service is going to plan and is due to complete nationally in December 2018. As of the end of July 2018 we will have completed 65% of this programme, with nearly 400,000 new claimants added onto the system since August 2017. Where amendments to the rollout schedule have been announced (as on 22 March in Written Statement HCWS577, or following the November 2017 Budget), these reflect local considerations and discussions, or policy changes to Universal Credit.

The policy changes announced following the November 2017 Budget, included:

  • from 3 January, increasing the repayment period of Universal Credit advances to 12 months, with claimants able to get up to 100 per cent of their estimated monthly entitlement upfront. These advances are available to claimants interest-free, and from July 2018, can be applied for online.
  • from 14 February, removing the seven-day waiting period that some claimants had at the start of their Universal Credit claim.
  • from 11 April, providing an additional payment for claimants already receiving support towards their housing costs of two weeks of their Housing Benefit to support them as they transfer onto Universal Credit. Claimants will not be required to repay this money.

Universal Credit is continuously improved in line with our test and learn approach and DWP continues to work closely with landlords, local authorities and other organisations to ensure claimants are supported throughout the assessment process. The Department provides funding for local authorities and other partner organisations to help claimants with the transition to Universal Credit through Universal Support. This is help for those who need assistance to manage their claim online and/or help with budgeting in order to manage their monthly payments and prioritise essential bills such as rent and utilities. Further information can be accessed at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-support.

In common with other DWP benefits, in cases where a customer is affected by Departmental error, we can also consider awarding an ex-gratia payment, as set out in the guide on Financial Redress for Maladministration.

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