Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the change in payment frequency from Employment and Support Allowance to Universal Credit on the finances of claimants.
Answered by Sir Stephen Timms
Universal Credit has a range of tools available to support customers with budgeting including Benefit Transfer Advances which are available for customers moving across from legacy benefits to UC.
Universal Credit is, by default, a monthly payment which is paid directly to customers as a single household payment. Alternative Payment Arrangements are available to support those who cannot manage the single monthly payment.
In instances where it is identified that a claimant is finding it difficult to budget, they can ask to have their Universal Credit payment divided over the month to be paid more frequently. This may be paid twice, or in exceptional circumstances, four times within a monthly assessment period. This payment arrangement does not increase the total award received within each assessment period.
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