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 simplify the universal credit application process.

Universal Credit is transforming the welfare system by replacing six key in-work and out-of-work benefits and making work pay. It removes the cliff edges and complicated hours rules of the existing legacy benefits system which is characterised by overlaps and duplication involving different national and local agencies. Claimants have to contact each agency separately and the complex combination of six different benefits often results in claimants not being aware of what they are entitled to.

Simplification of welfare through Universal Credit will lead to increased take-up of entitlement as only one application is required where previously there may have been several. This will be worth £2.4billion per year for claimants when Universal Credit is fully rolled out, as set out in the Universal Credit Full Business Case Summary.

Data shows that 98% of claims are made online, and claimants can contact their work coach at any point during their claim via email and their online journal if they require further help, or can call the Freephone (since November 2017) Universal Credit helpline.

The Department continues to review and improve the service for all people who claim Universal Credit to ensure that it is accessible and responsive to their needs. We have introduced online systems changes to allow claimants to upload self-employed earnings, verify their childcare costs and apply for advances, all of which make it even easier for claimants to apply for Universal Credit. Our roll-out of a ‘landlord portal’ improves communication with landlords and makes it easier and quicker to verify housing costs.