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Universal Credit: Social Rented Housing

Asked by Michael WheelerLabourDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 15 September 2025UIN 74456

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support social housing tenants affected by the transition from Employment and Support Allowance to Universal Credit.

Answered by Sir Stephen Timms

We work collaboratively with a broad range of representatives from the Social Rented Sector, with two-way communications to ensure that the customers they represent get the support they need to move safely to Universal Credit.

Help to Claim support, provided by Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland, provides support to anyone making a new Universal Credit claim, whether that is a new customer or someone moving to Universal Credit from legacy benefits. This includes helping social housing tenants to access adaptations such as direct payments to landlords, as well as navigating the claim process until the first payment is made.

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