Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Written Statements of 7 June 2018, WS745 and 11 January 2019, WS1245 on universal credit, whether the backdated payment of severe disability premium will be subject to the capital limit rules.

The draft Universal Credit (Managed Migration Pilot and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 contain provision regarding the treatment of the Severe Disability Premium lump sum payment.

These draft regulations state that any amount paid as a lump sum is to be disregarded in the calculation of capital for the duration of the award or, if longer, twelve months from the date of that payment.