Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of universal credit claimants who have been threatened with eviction because of the six-week waiting period to receive a payment.

The information requested is not available.

The Universal Credit assessment period and payment structure is a fundamental part of the design; it helps reduce welfare dependency by mirroring the world of work, where 75% of people are paid monthly. We have a number of safeguards in place to help claimants transition to Universal Credit including Advances and Budgeting Support.

We continue to work closely with landlords, Local Authorities and other organisations to ensure claimants are supported.