Universal Credit
Work and Pensions

Stephen Timms (East Ham, Labour)

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he has carried out analysis of future universal credit claimants to establish (a) how many households will be affected by the transition to universal credit, (b) how many such claimants are worried about the change to universal credit and (c) how many claimants will be capable of managing universal credit; and if he will place a copy of any such analysis in the Library.

Mark Hoban (Fareham, Conservative)

The Department estimates that 12 million claims to current benefits and tax credits will be integrated into eight million household claims to universal credit.

‘Work and the welfare system: a survey of benefits and tax credits recipients’ was published on 12 July 2012. The research was commissioned to help DWP implement universal credit by providing detailed information on views and attitudes to work, budgeting skills and internet use among a representative sample of benefit units who would be impacted by the transition to universal credit.

We recognise that some claimants may need additional help to budget, particularly during the transitional period. We are working with the advice sector to ensure that claimants are able to access appropriate budgeting support services to enable them to manage their money successfully.

For a minority of claimants, however, an alternative payment arrangement may be required in addition to the above support. This includes making more frequent than monthly payments of universal credit to households, splitting payment between both joint claimants or paying housing costs directly to the landlord.