Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has (a) made and (b) commissioned on the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on trends in the level of rent arrears for social housing tenants.

Safeguards are in place for Universal Credit claimants, including Advances, and Alternative Payment Arrangements and claimants already receiving Housing Benefit are paid an additional two weeks of Housing Benefit to support them whilst they transition to monthly payments on Universal Credit. Our work coaches gauge claimants’ financial needs from their first interview and can refer them to more specialist support for debt advice if required.

According to latest figures (November 2018), only about 8% of social rented households were claiming Universal Credit. Many tenants have pre-existing rent arrears at the start of their claim; indications at this stage are that Universal Credit actually helps to clear these arrears over time.

We are currently carrying out analysis of this issue with a number of housing providers, to investigate and understand the true level of rent arrears for their tenants, what is causing them and any impacts Universal Credit may be having. This will be published when completed.