Universal Credit

(asked on 14th January 2020) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it is her Department's policy to ensure that universal credit payments for December are received by claimants before Christmas Day.


Answered by
Will Quince Portrait
Will Quince
This question was answered on 21st January 2020

The information requested surrounding the volume of Faster Payments made on 24 December 2019 is not readily available and to provide it would incur a disproportionate cost to the Department.

Universal Credit payments are issued on the same date every month throughout the year. This helps to ensure claimants manage a household budget effectively by knowing when to expect their payment.

The Department’s banking system identifies when a payment date falls on a bank holiday or weekend, and will automatically issue the payment on the last working day before the bank holiday or weekend to ensure that claimants are not disadvantaged.

We have substantial experience of making alternative payment arrangements where necessary, and publicise any changes through channels including Jobcentres and online at GOV.UK.

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