Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, under what circumstances a person within one of the universal credit north west pathfinder jobcentres, who meets the eligibility criteria for universal credit under the pathfinder programme, may start a claim for jobseeker's allowance instead of universal credit.

A person who meets the eligibility requirements for claiming Universal Credit (UC) anywhere in Great Britain where UC is available can claim contributory-only Jobseeker’s Allowance, either alongside a UC claim or on its own. If a person meets the conditions for claiming UC they cannot claim income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.