Universal Credit: Wales

(asked on 21st February 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of universal credit claimants in (a) Aberavon constituency and (b) Wales have received an advanced payment.


Answered by
Will Quince Portrait
Will Quince
This question was answered on 26th February 2020

Universal Credit is now the main system of working age welfare support across the country. It is available in every Jobcentre, with a caseload of 2.8 million claimants, growing every month, now able to access the additional support and flexibilities it offers.

New Claim Advances are available to support those in immediate financial need until their first Universal Credit payment is made. Around 60 per cent of new claims take an advance payment. Subject to some fluctuation, this rate of advance take-up has been broadly consistent over the last 12 months. As the overall Universal Credit caseload grows, we expect the volume and value of advance payments to increase in correlation. This shows that claimants are being made aware of advances and are using it where they need this help.

The below table shows the number of claims paid and those who received at least one advance payment in Wales and the Aberavon parliamentary constituency.

Number of paid claims

Of which; Have had at least one advance

Proportion of claims paid an advance

Wales

181,120

100,050

55%

Aberavon parliamentary constituency

6,470

3,530

55%

Notes

1. Figures relate only to Universal Credit full service, from inception to November 2019 inclusive

2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10

3. Figures include all types of advances, including advances paid after the first assessment period

Reticulating Splines