Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will place in the Library details of the evidence required of claimants of the housing cost element of universal credit aged between the ages of 18 and 21 to whom paragraph 4A does not apply as detailed under paragraph 4B, parts a, b, c, d, e, f and g; and if he will make a statement.

DWP will gather information to determine eligibility for many of these exemptions, such as whether the claimant has responsibility for a child or is exempt from the shared accommodation rate, as part of the standard claims process. Where a claimant qualifies for such an exemption no further information will be required.

For other exemptions, we will not expect a claimant who tells us that they are unable to live with their parents or that they have been subjected to domestic violence, for example, to provide documentary evidence. A reference from a third party – such as a local authority or a relevant charity – would be acceptable.