Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Government has made of the potential merits of suspending the Universal Credit (Miscellaneous Amendments, Saving and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2018 for the duration of the covid-19 outbreak.

The Universal Credit (Miscellaneous Amendments, Saving and Transitional Provision) Regulations 2018 introduced a package of positive measures announced in the Autumn Budget on 22 November 2017 and the SSWP’s oral statement the following day. It also introduced additional measures that are very technical by nature, which had been highlighted as part of the learning process of Universal Credit and ensured the legislation reflected the intended policy.

We cannot see any merit in suspending these regulations. For example, we have no plans to re-introduce waiting days to Universal Credit during the Covid period, as this would reduce financial support for claimants and delay the initial payment, nor do we have any plans to suspend the Transition to UC Housing Payment (the two-week run on of Housing Benefit), as this would remove vital financial support for people moving to UC.