Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons there is a seven-day waiting period for universal credit; and what assessment he has made of the effect of that waiting period on a claimant's wellbeing.

The fundamental principle behind waiting days is that benefits are not designed to provide cover for brief spells of unemployment or sickness. To ensure we provide a vital safety net for vulnerable people, a number of groups are exempt from waiting days and any need for financial or budgeting support will be established at the outset of the claim.