Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many advance benefit payments have been made to people in Glasgow in each month between April 2019 to August 2019; and if she will make a statement.

Universal Credit new claim advances provide access to a payment for those in financial need, which can be accessed urgently, until their first UC payment is due. Claimants can access up to 100% of the total expected monthly award, for which they can pay back over a period of up to 12 months.

For Glasgow City local authority:

• In April 2019 there were 3,100 Universal Credit advances paid
• In May 2019 there were 3,100 Universal Credit advances paid

The Department has taken a number of steps to ensure that advances meet the needs of claimants and that recovery arrangements are personalised and reasonable. The maximum rate of deductions cannot normally exceed 40 per cent of the Universal Credit standard allowance and does not reduce other components of an award, such as money paid for children, housing or when someone is caring for a severely disabled person. From October 2019 this will be reduced to 30 per cent and from October 2021 we are increasing the maximum recovery period for advances from 12 to 16 months.

Notes:

1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 100
2. Figures only go to May 2019 in line with published statistics relating to households on Universal Credit
3. Figures include all types of advances
4. Figures relate to Universal Credit full service only