Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many benefit claimants have been migrated to universal credit since June 2018 in the Havering Borough Council area.

Claimants move from existing benefits to Universal Credit when they experience a significant change in their circumstances that triggers a new claim to benefit. We do not centrally collate the number of claimants that have made a new claim to Universal Credit as a result of such a change in circumstances

As set out in Written Ministerial Statement HCWS1243, moving legacy benefit and tax credit claimants where there is no change of circumstance across to Universal Credit will begin with a pilot in July 2019. This pilot will initially involve no more than 10,000 claimants. Testing the system and our processes will allow us to make sure we can provide the best possible service to those who are moved to Universal Credit. The movement of these legacy benefit and tax credit claimants will be completed, as planned, by the end of 2023.