Social Security Benefits: Debts

(asked on 12th October 2017) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to assist households facing debt as a result of social security delays.


Answered by
Damian Hinds Portrait
Damian Hinds
Minister of State (Education)
This question was answered on 21st November 2017

The policy intention is that claimants receive the first payment 5 weeks after their date of entitlement (6 weeks if waiting days are served). The assessment period runs for a full calendar month from the date of entitlement, and the UC pay date will be 7 calendar days after the end of the assessment period. This mirrors the world of work and allows for a 1 month period in which to gather information about a claimants’ earnings. Advances and budgeting support are available to support claimants during this period. Advances can provide up to 50% of a claimant’s indicative award straight away.

Data published on 2 October 2017 shows that, in June 2017 81% of new Universal Credit households received their first payment in full and on time. Across the whole of Universal Credit 92% of all households received full payment on time.

Our internal data shows that for those cases where full payment has not been made, around a sixth have not signed their Claimant Commitment or passed identity checks and the others have outstanding verification issues, e.g. housing, self-employed earnings and child-care costs.

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