Universal Credit
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that Universal Credit claimants can obtain clear and consistent guidance on whether particular financial receipts including the sale of personal possessions must be declared and how they will affect entitlement, in cases where staff are currently unable to provide definitive answers.
Answered by Sir Stephen Timms
The Department does not routinely require receipts for the sale or disposal of personal possessions. Claimants must declare capital that may affect entitlement to means-tested benefits and are continually advised and reminded of their responsibility for declaring any capital they hold. For Universal Credit, capital up to £6,000 does not affect entitlement; capital between £6,000 and £16,000 is treated as assumed income; and entitlement usually ends where accessible capital exceeds £16,000. Where relevant, the Department may ask for evidence to understand what has happened to capital, but receipts are requested only where appropriate. If a claimant deliberately reduces or transfers capital to obtain or increase benefit, they may be treated as still possessing it as notional capital.
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