Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Universal Credit

Monday 16 December 2024 · 3 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister committed to reviewing Universal Credit to address benefit debt issues.
  • Advances of up to 100% of potential Universal Credit entitlements are available during the first assessment period.
  • Government plans to complete the transition from Tax Credits to Universal Credit in early next year.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Antonia Bance Lab Tipton and Wednesbury
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP highlighted that 27% of working-age individuals in her constituency rely on universal credit. She noted concerns about the design flaw causing a five-week wait for first payments.

Question

What plans does she have to review Universal Credit? Twenty-seven per cent of working-age people in Tipton, Wednesbury and Coseley rely on Universal Credit. I welcome the fair repayment rate announced in the Budget, but a major reason for benefit debt is the design flaw in Universal Credit which means that claimants must wait five weeks for their first payment. Will the Minister confirm that the five-week wait will be considered in the review of Universal Credit?

Answer from Stephen Timms

We are committed to reviewing Universal Credit to ensure it is doing the job we need it to. We have started by announcing the fair repayment rate in the Budget, and we will keep Parliament updated. I can assure my hon Friend that advances of up to 100% of potential Universal Credit entitlements are available urgently during the first assessment period of a claim but she is right to raise concerns about the five-week wait.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not confirm whether the five-week wait will be specifically considered in the review.

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Q2 Antonia Bance Lab Tipton and Wednesbury
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP highlighted that 27% of working-age individuals in her constituency rely on universal credit. She noted concerns about the design flaw causing a five-week wait for first payments.

Question

What plans does she have to review Universal Credit? Twenty-seven per cent of working-age people in Tipton, Wednesbury and Coseley rely on Universal Credit. I welcome the fair repayment rate announced in the Budget, but a major reason for benefit debt is the design flaw in Universal Credit which means that claimants must wait five weeks for their first payment. Will the Minister confirm that the five-week wait will be considered in the review of Universal Credit?

Answer from Stephen Timms

I can assure my hon Friend that advances of up to 100% of potential Universal Credit entitlements are available urgently during the first assessment period of a claim but she is right to raise concerns about the five-week wait. I commend to her the excellent report on this subject published by the Work and Pensions Committee in the last Parliament. The point she has raised is definitely one that we need to consider.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not confirm whether the five-week wait will be specifically considered in the review.

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Q3 Wendy Chamberlain Lib Dem North East Fife
Benefits & Welfare Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The MP noted that farmers struggle with the transition to Universal Credit due to its seasonal nature, and highlighted previous support via tax credits.

Question

Some of the farmers who work so hard to put food on our tables find it difficult to put food on the table themselves, and need additional Government support. That used to happen via Tax Credits, but the transition to Universal Credit has been hugely challenging for farmers given the seasonal nature of their work. Will the Minister meet me to hear some of their concerns, so that we can incorporate those concerns into the Government's review?

Answer from Stephen Timms

We are watching very carefully the progress of migration from Tax Credits to Universal Credit, which will be complete in the early part of next year, but I would be very happy to meet the hon Lady and discuss some of the difficulties she is seeing.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not confirm specific action or timeline for addressing farmers' concerns.

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