Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Universal Credit

Wednesday 26 February 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Universal credit was designed to simplify the benefits system and ensure payments reach those in need.
  • The government estimates that 700,000 more people will receive about 2.4 billion of unclaimed benefits through universal credit.
  • The government recognises that the system does not always work as well as intended and acknowledges casework indicating struggles.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Cat Smith Lab Lancaster and Fleetwood
Wales Benefits & Welfare
Context

The roll-out of Universal Credit in Wales has raised concerns about its impact on low-income families.

Question

What assessment have you made of the effect on low-income families of the roll-out of universal credit in Wales?

Answer from Simon Hart (The Secretary of State for Wales)

Universal credit was designed to simplify the system and ensure that payments reach those in need. We estimate that 700,000 more people will receive about £2.4 billion of unclaimed benefits through universal credit.

Answered
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Q2 Cat Smith Lab Lancaster and Fleetwood
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The questioner raises concerns about the dehumanising work capability assessments, which find sick and disabled people fit for work.

Question

Will the Government commit to ending the dehumanising work capability and personal independence payment assessments, which routinely find sick and disabled people fit for work, and commit to bring all these assessments in-house?

Answer from Simon Hart (The Secretary of State for Wales)

I think all of us, on both sides of the House, recognise that the system does not always work as well as it should. We all have casework that would indicate that. Our ongoing commitment—indeed, I was doing this back in 2011—is to make sure that, where people do struggle with the system or fall through the gaps, we act quickly, efficiently and humanely. Any cases that the hon. Lady or other Members have where that is not happening, please raise them with us and we will take them up with the Department for Work and Pensions.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The issue of ending work capability assessments and bringing them in-house was not directly addressed.

How: Casework Indication, Commitment To Act

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