Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Universal Credit System Resilience: Covid-19

Monday 8 November 2021 · 4 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The universal credit system processed over 100,000 new claims in a single day during the pandemic.
  • The government announced changes to the universal credit taper rate and work allowances, set to take effect from November 24.
  • The government's response to Labour's question emphasized long-term job placement over temporary financial support measures.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Claire Coutinho Con East Surrey
Benefits & Welfare
Context

During the pandemic, there was significant pressure on the universal credit system with a surge in new claims.

Question

What assessment has been made of the resilience of the universal credit system during the covid-19 outbreak?

Answer from Therese Coffey

The universal credit system stood up to the challenge of the pandemic, with over 100,000 new claims on one day alone, ten times the average. The old system would not have coped with this pressure.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Claire Coutinho Con East Surrey
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The government announced changes to the universal credit taper rate and work allowances.

Question

Could my right hon. Friend set out the timetable for the very welcome changes that she has made to the universal credit taper rate and to work allowances?

Answer from Therese Coffey

The Chancellor announced an increase in work allowances and a reduction of the taper rate to 55% no later than December 1. The latest information is that this change will occur from November 24, benefiting over 500,000 claimants.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Toby Perkins Lab Chesterfield
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The government ended the £20 uplift to universal credit during the pandemic.

Question

Why would the Government reassure themselves that it is okay to plunge people into poverty, when they have done everything that the Government have asked them to do in terms of trying to find work? Why not just reintroduce that £20 payment?

Answer from Therese Coffey

The £20 uplift was a temporary measure due to pandemic conditions. The government has doubled work coaches and aims to help people get into work, believing this is the best way out of poverty.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Reintroduction of £20 payment

How: We Are Focusing On Getting People Back Into Work

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 Andrew Jones Con
Immigration
Context

Harrogate was a location for the managed migration from legacy benefits pilot.

Question

Is she able to update the House on how that is going? Before the pandemic, it was going very well indeed. Is she now in a position to recommence the pilot, or to move on to the next stage of the migration?

Answer from Therese Coffey

The Harrogate pilot provided valuable learnings. Due to these lessons, there is no immediate need to resume the pilot in Harrogate but it has informed our plan which remains under preparation.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Immediate resumption of the pilot in Harrogate

How: Not Envisaging A Need For The Pilot

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email