Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to suspend the full-rollout of universal credit planned for 29 November 2017 in (a) Brighton and Hove, (b) other areas where the six week wait falls over the Christmas period and (c) other areas where roll-out is planned prior to implementation of the changes recently announced in the House; and if he will make a statement.

As announced in the Secretary of State’s oral Statement, we have carefully revised the rollout plan for Universal Credit, to ensure we continue safely and gradually to rollout this important welfare reform.

It is important to remember, that new claimants in December can already receive an advance of up to 50% of their overall entitlement, and may receive a second advance to take it up to 100% in the New Year. After Christmas, the period over which an advance is recovered will increase from six to 12 months, making it easier for claimants to manage their finances. This will apply regardless of the level of advance claimed.

Measures are in place to safeguard payments where people would be impacted by bank holidays to ensure that they have money over the festive period; This includes the careful assessment of technical systems and banking systems availability, to ensure successful payments can be made. This year we have enhanced the functionality and added a faster payment contingency function for Universal Credit.

UC payments due to be received on 23, 24, 25 & 26 December will be paid no later than 22 December.

UC payments due to be received on 30, 31 December & 1 January will receive payment no later than 29 December.