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Universal Credit: Earnings Rules

Asked by Rebecca SmithConservativeDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 27 May 2026UIN 1545

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 20 April 2026 to Question 125945 on Universal Credit, what data his Department holds on the relationship between hours worked and reductions in Universal Credit awards through the earnings taper.

Answered by Sir Stephen Timms

The department does not hold information about Universal Credit awards reduced by the earnings taper at claimant level.

UC awards are affected by the amount that households earn, rather than the number of hours that they work. The department holds information on the earnings levels of individuals on UC, but information on the number of hours worked for those in employment is not collated.

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