Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to (a) promote the option of universal credit split payments and (b) reduce the risks from selecting that option.

Split payments are available to claimants to prevent hardship and are considered in certain circumstances, such as in cases of domestic violence, financial abuse or where one partner has mismanaged the household finances. Our staff work closely with claimants, ensuring that any vulnerability is identified at an early stage; and tailor the support they provide to the claimant’s needs. No information relating to the split payment, including why a split payment has been granted, is recorded on the claimant’s individual online journal or shared with the other member of the couple.