Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claims for universal credit have been refused as a result of the applicant not having a fixed address.

A claim to Universal Credit can still be made if a claimant does not have a permanent address, so this would not be a reason for a refusal.

Where a claimant does not have sufficient documentary evidence to verify their identity, DWP follows a process known as a biographical security check, whereby the claimant is asked a series of security questions to validate their identity. Should the claimant fail the biographical security check, as an additional safeguard we can approach a third party to validate the claimant’s identity (subject to the claimant giving their consent).