Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to amend Universal Credit regulations to take into account the 53-week rent year for 2024.

Universal Credit payments are designed to mirror the world of work, with calendar monthly calculations and payments reflecting the way most working people are paid.

As no calendar year contains 53 weeks, Universal Credit always converts weekly amounts to monthly sums using 52 weeks.  The legitimacy of this approach was confirmed by the High Court having been tested via a judicial review.

All of our policies are open to review and may be subject to change in the future; however, we have no plans at present to make changes to this policy.