Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what proportion of successful new universal credit claims in the past year the claimant has been given an advance at the start of their claim.
Internal data shows that from February 2018 - January 2019, 57% of eligible new claims to Universal Credit Full Service received an advance payment. Subject to some fluctuation, this rate of advance take-up has been broadly consistent. This shows that claimants are being made aware of advances and that our advance system is being utilised so people receive help when they need it.