Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Guy Opperman and Julie Elliott

Monday 19th November 2018 Commons Chamber

[Julie Elliott (Sunderland Central) (Lab)]

8. What recent assessment her Department has made of the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on the personal finances of claimants.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Guy Opperman)]

Universal credit allows claimants to work and earn more, and the evidence is that people on universal credit are moving into work faster. We believe that everyone who can work should be given every support to get into work. That is what the job coaches are doing.

[Julie Elliott]

The Child Poverty Action Group found that almost half of those moving on to universal credit needed support, which is often not available, to set up their claim. If they miss their deadline, they receive no transitional protection and no back-dated credit, and they have to wait a further five weeks for payment. With the new Secretary of State leading the Department, is it not time for the Government to pause the roll-out of this benefit and look again at wiping out these very, very serious wrongs in the system?

[Guy Opperman]

If the individual claimant is vulnerable, there can be backdating, but for those who need extra support, there are advances of 100% from day one and also budgeting support. We are creating a brand new partnership with Citizens Advice to deliver a better universal support service.