Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the additional annual cost of introducing a taper on (a) an occupational pension and (b) other unearned income into universal credit set at 95 per cent.

When universal credit is fully rolled out, a 95% taper on occupational pension is estimated to cost an additional £50m per annum. A 95% taper on all other unearned income (exclud. occupational pension) is estimated to cost an additional £300m per annum. These estimates are in 2014/15 prices.

The general principle in Universal Credit is that income other than earnings which is provided to meet everyday living costs is taken fully into account in the calculation of the award of benefit. Universal Credit is designed to be responsive to the actual amount of income a claimant receives each month, to ensure people get help when they need it and can budget effectively. This approach also keeps administrative costs down and provides simpler rules for treatment of unearned income.