Department for Work and Pensions written question – answered on 21 June 2023.
Caroline Lucas
Green, Brighton, Pavilion
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 24 May 2023 to Question 185575 Universal Credit: Self-employed, how many and what proportion of (a) households with a self-employed Universal Credit claimant and (b) people living in households with a self-employed Universal Credit claimant were subject to the Minimum Income Floor from March 2022 to February 2023 in Brighton and Hove in the same period; what assessment he has made of the impact of the Minimum Income Floor on the ability of self-employed people whose earnings fall below that level to afford essential costs of living; if he will make it his policy to remove the Minimum Income Floor; and if he will make a statement.
Guy Opperman
The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions
No assessment of this issue, as raised, has been made.
There is no intention to reconsider this policy to remove the Minimum Income Floor. The Minimum Income Floor plays an important role in encouraging self-employed claimants to increase their earnings to a sustainable level through developing their self-employment, or to consider other ways to achieve financial self-sufficiency such as through paid employment.
The table below shows the number and proportion of (a) households with a self-employed Universal Credit claimant and (b) people living in households with a self-employed Universal Credit claimant subject to the Minimum Income Floor in Brighton and Hove from March 2022 to February 2023.
Households with one or more self-employed claimants | Individuals in households with one or more self-employed claimants | |||
Number subject to the MIF | Proportion subject to the MIF | Number subject to the MIF | Proportion subject to the MIF | |
Mar-22 | 170 | 5% | 250 | 6% |
Apr-22 | 210 | 6% | 300 | 7% |
May-22 | 220 | 7% | 320 | 8% |
Jun-22 | 220 | 7% | 320 | 8% |
Jul-22 | 240 | 7% | 340 | 8% |
Aug-22 | 250 | 7% | 350 | 8% |
Sep-22 | 260 | 8% | 360 | 8% |
Oct-22 | 290 | 9% | 410 | 10% |
Nov-22 | 330 | 10% | 460 | 11% |
Dec-22 | 350 | 10% | 490 | 12% |
Jan-23 | 400 | 12% | 570 | 13% |
Feb-23 | 450 | 14% | 640 | 15% |
Notes:
1. Numbers of households and individuals are rounded to the nearest 10.
2. Households with a UC award of zero but whose claims have not yet closed are not included.
3. Claimants are counted as subject to the Minimum Income Floor if they are gainfully self-employed, not in a start-up period, and do not have temporary easement under which the MIF is not applied.
4. During the period shown there has been a large increase in numbers and proportions subject to the Minimum Income Floor as 12 month start-up periods come to an end for the large volume of claimants assessed in the period following the re-introduction of the MIF in August 2021.
Yes1 person thinks so
No0 people think not
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