Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons maternity allowance and statutory maternity pay are classified differently under the universal credit rules.

Universal Credit is a means tested system of support. Where claimants have income available to meet their everyday living costs, such as maternity allowance, it is right that their entitlement to UC is adjusted accordingly (as currently is the case with other DWP legacy means tested working age benefits).

Statutory maternity pay is paid by an employer and is therefore a form of earnings subject to the work allowance and tapering within Universal Credit, as are other earnings.