Social Security Benefits: Domestic Abuse

(asked on 18th August 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to help prevent financial abuse from domestic partners in the welfare system when making benefit calculations involving people who are cohabitating.


Answered by
Will Quince Portrait
Will Quince
This question was answered on 10th September 2021

Universal Credit provides a tailored service that recognises those with complex needs at any point throughout their journey and ensures appropriate support is quickly made available.

Split payments were created to prevent hardship to the claimant and their family, in circumstances where there is vulnerability in the household which leads to financial difficulty. In certain circumstances someone in a joint claim, including individuals suffering from domestic abuse, can request a split payment and we will support them in putting this arrangement in place. We have made changes to the digital claimant messaging to try to ensure that the main carer receives the Universal Credit payment directly.

We continue to support victims of domestic abuse to claim benefits through a range of measures. These include special provisions for temporary accommodation, easements, rapid advances and signposting to expert third-party support. As it can be difficult for individuals facing domestic abuse to come forward, all Work Coaches undergo mandatory training regarding how to support vulnerable claimants, including recognising the signs of domestic abuse. In July 2019 we also changed Universal Credit claimant messaging to encourage those in joint claims to nominate the bank account of the main carer to receive their Universal Credit payment.

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