Asked by: Richard Holden (Conservative - Basildon and Billericay)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason deductions are not made directly from Universal Credit and paid to Landlords to cover rent.
Answered by David Rutley
The payment of Universal Credit to claimants is a considered design choice. The Universal Credit assessment period and payment structure are fundamental parts of its design. They help reduce welfare dependency by mirroring the world of work, where the majority of people are paid monthly. Ensuring similarities between paid employment and receiving benefits removes an important barrier which could prevent claimants from moving into paid employment.
For those who cannot manage their single monthly payment, Alternative Payment Arrangements, and more specifically a Managed Payment to Landlord, is available at the start or at any point during a Universal Credit claim.