Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will make an assessment of the potential impact of deductions from Universal Credit payments on people affected by the cap on benefits in Manchester Gorton constituency.

The benefit cap provides a strong work incentive and fairness for hard-working taxpaying households and encourages people to move into work, where possible.

Universal Credit households with earnings of at least £658 in an assessment period are exempt from the cap. Exemptions also apply for the most vulnerable claimants that are receiving disability benefits and/or entitled to carer benefits.

In recent years, the standard deductions cap has been reduced twice – from 40% to 30% of the Standard Allowance in October 2019, and down to 25% in April 2021. Reducing the threshold further would risk key social obligations such as Child Maintenance not being met.

For DWP Debt deductions, if a claimant is struggling financially, they can contact DWP Debt Management to discuss a reduction in their repayment, or temporary suspension, depending on financial circumstances.