Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many social housing providers in the four pathfinder areas for universal credit have applied for trusted partner status to allow for direct payment of the housing costs element in certain circumstances.

The first phase of the ‘Trusted Partner’ pilot started on Monday 28^th September with 6 landlords all of whom are located within the Pathfinder areas.