Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to help support the financial needs of families, including their (a) eligibility for benefits and (b) access to childcare support.

Universal Credit is designed to be a flexible benefit which offers support for both those in and out of work. It provides an invaluable safety net for millions of customers through the standard allowance and additional elements.

The government recognises the value of this safety net to millions of people and has therefore legislated for the first ever sustained above-inflation uplift to the UC standard allowance.

In September we launched the Best Start in Life website for carers and parents, providing information on the government childcare offers available and an eligibility checker.

Independent, free and anonymous benefit calculators are available to help people check what benefits they may be entitled to. The calculators can be accessed on the Government website at: https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators