Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason under universal credit (a) statutory maternity pay is classed as earnings and subject to partial disregard and (b) maternity allowance is classed as income with the full payment taken into account.

Universal Credit is a means tested system of support and where claimants have income available to meet their everyday living costs, such as maternity allowance, it is right that their entitlement to UC is adjusted accordingly (as currently is the case with other DWP legacy means tested working age benefits).

Statutory maternity pay is paid by an employer and is a form of earnings. As a result, statutory maternity pay is therefore subject to the work allowance and tapering within Universal Credit, as are other earnings.