Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to change universal credit assessment periods.

There are no plans to change Universal Credit assessment periods.

Monthly assessment periods align payments with the way in which a majority of employees are paid, and how utility companies and service providers usually collect payments. They ensure that the amount of Universal Credit paid to claimants reflects the actual circumstances of a household as closely as possible.

Assessing income monthly ensures that if a claimant’s earnings decrease, their Universal Credit award increases to reflect their change in income. This prevents claimants having to wait months for the corresponding change in their award.