Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment his Department has made of the impact of changes to Universal Credit (a) assessment periods and (b) payment schedules arising from early salary payments at weekends and bank holidays on people affected by those payments.

There are no planned changes to Universal Credit assessment periods or payment schedules.

Universal Credit has been designed with monthly assessment periods to reflect the world of work, where the majority of all employees receive wages monthly. Guidance is available to claimants, staff and representatives to raise awareness of different earnings patterns and their impact on Universal Credit.

Where a claimant wishes to dispute the earnings information, we have received from their employer, they can submit evidence to us, and we will look into the case to see if a change needs to be made.