Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of introducing a minimum floor for Universal Credit so that benefit deductions and the benefit cap do not push people into financial hardship.

There are no plans to introduce a floor of this nature. However, the Government is committed to reviewing Universal Credit so that it makes work pay and tackles poverty.

Universal Credit customers can approach their local authority to be considered for a Discretionary Housing Payment. These can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their rental costs.