Universal Credit

(asked on 29th January 2019) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria her Department uses to override a decision of a magistrates' court in relation to the value of deductions in claimants’ universal credit awards; and if she will make a statement.


Answered by
Alok Sharma Portrait
Alok Sharma
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
This question was answered on 4th February 2019

Magistrate Courts impose fines and compensation orders on offenders, and can instruct the DWP to make a deduction from Universal Credit. We will not override the decision of a Magistrates Court.

When DWP receives a formal application from a Magistrates Court, which complies with the Fines (Deductions from Income Support) Regulations 1992 for a fine and/or compensation order, we will make a deduction from a claimant’s benefit. The deduction rate is set out in the regulations at a minimum rate of 5% of their standard allowance and up to a maximum rate of £108.35 (£25 per week) per assessment period, as long as there is sufficient Universal Credit in payment.

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