Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have considered piloting changes to Universal Credit taper rates for young people in supported housing; and what options they are considering to assist people living in supported housing to take on more paid work.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

People on a low income living in Supported Housing or Temporary Accommodation, receive Universal Credit for help with their daily living costs and Housing Benefit for help with their housing costs. Customers living in Supported Housing are also able to access higher levels of housing support through Housing Benefit.

The Department for Work and Pensions acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those living in Supported and Temporary Accommodation and receiving their housing support through Housing Benefit.

We are considering options to improve work incentives for residents of supported housing and temporary accommodation, while taking into account the views of stakeholders. Any future decisions on housing support will be made in the round, prioritising measures that best meet Government objectives within the current fiscal environment.

It remains the department’s priority to ensure that those who can work are supported to enter the labour market and to sustain employment.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to act on the findings of the Impact Assessment of Support for Mortgage Interest Loans, published in May 2025, including those relating to the experiences and outcomes of disabled claimants and other protected groups.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Since its introduction in April 2018, my Department has kept the Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI) loan scheme under review. As a result of this, improvements to the scheme were introduced in 2021 and in 2023. The first of these allowed loans to be ‘ported’ to a new property rather than be repaid. This was primarily aimed at disabled recipients who may need to move home due to changes in their disability requirements.

The research published in May 2025 concluded SMI had the intended impact on recipients, to reduce arrears and repossessions. There are no current plans to introduce further changes.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether Universal Credit should be increased for those aged under 25 who are living independently, in line with payments to those aged over 25.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

There are no plans to change the under 25 standard allowance rate.

This government is committed to rebuild opportunities for young people, so that every young person can fulfil their potential, and we are taking significant steps to support people to do so including through our Get Britain Working reforms. The under 25 standard allowance rate maintains the incentive for young people to find, and progress in work and the Department for Work and Pensions provides a range of support to help people into employment.

For those who live independently or have additional living costs, Universal Credit includes separate elements to support all eligible customers with these, including elements for housing, children, childcare costs, disabled people, and carers.

We continue to work in close partnership with other government departments to ensure that care leavers can access the right skills, opportunities and wider support, to move towards sustained employment and career progression. The Department provides a range of targeted additional support for care leavers including access to the higher one-bedroom Local Housing Allowance rate up to the age of 25, as well as tailored support through Jobcentre Plus. We review this regularly.