Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

What assessment her Department has made of the effect of explicit consent restrictions placed on advice agencies on the ability of people to make a claim for universal credit.

Explicit consent is not required to make a new claim. If claimants cannot make or manage their claim on-line, they can receive face to face support through their local jobcentre or assistance through our Freephone telephone number. Once the claim is made, claimants who require agencies to act on their behalf can provide explicit consent.

In our response to the Social Security Advisory Committee in November 2018 in respect of the managed migration regulations, we have agreed to explore options for improving the process of explicit consent in collaboration with the committee.