Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the decision taken that Universal Credit claimants will not be eligible for the cost of living payment if they had their Universal Credit award reduced to zero by the minimum income floor and did not receive a Universal Credit payment during the qualifying month; and if her Department will publish statistics to show how many claimants will be affected by that policy.

No assessment has been made,

We have deliberately kept the rules for these payments as simple as possible. This is the only way we can ensure that we can develop the systems and processes required to make these payments. The cost-of-living payment is being made in two payments which have different qualifying periods, this will mean that some people may not receive the first payment but may receive the second payment.

Information showing the number of claimants that may be affected by this Policy is not readily available, and this would only be possible at a disproportionate cost.

Should people find that they need further support, they may wish to approach their Local Authority to ask about support under the Household Support Fund. For further information please see Cost of Living Payment - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The following PQ regarding the MIF and Universal Credit may be of interest Written questions and answers- Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament