UK Inquiry Tracker

Universal Credit and Survival Sex: sex in exchange for meeting survival needs inquiry

Work and Pensions Committee Closed Inquiry

Opened: 4 Mar 2019 Closed: 5 Nov 2019 Parliament page

The Committee has opened this phase in its Universal Credit inquiry in response to reports from charities and support organisations that increasing numbers of people—overwhelmingly women—have been getting involved in “survival sex” as a direct result of welfare policy changes. These include the roll-out of Universal Credit. In his recent … Read more The Committee has opened this phase in its Universal Credit inquiry in response to reports from charities and support organisations that increasing numbers of people—overwhelmingly women—have been getting involved in “survival sex” as a direct result of welfare policy changes. These include the roll-out of Universal Credit. In his recent report on extreme poverty in the UK, the UN Special Rapporteur, Professor Philip Alston, described meeting people who: Depend on food banks and charities for their next meal, who are sleeping on friends’ couches because they are homeless and don’t have a safe place for their children to sleep, who have sold sex for money or shelter. Through its work on different aspects of Universal Credit over the last two years, the Committee has identified number of features of the policy that may contribute to claimants having difficulty meeting survival needs. The wait for a first payment, which is a minimum of five weeks but can be a lot longer; The accumulation of debt: for example, as a result of third-party deductions to benefits or taking out an Advance Payment at the start of a claim; Sanctions, which are applied at a higher rate under Universal Credit than under the system it replaces. Write to us We’d like to hear from you if you’ve had to exchange sex for basic living essentials, like food or somewhere to live. This will help us to understand what is happening and to make the right recommendations to the Government. We understand that telling your story might be difficult. You can ask for your evidence to be anonymous (we’ll publish your story, but not your name or any personal details about you) or confidential (we’ll read your story but we won’t publish it). The Committee is inviting anyone with experience of or affected by this issue, in any capacity, to send us a written submissions on any or all of the following questions: What features of Universal Credit might drive people into “survival sex”? How does Universal Credit compare to the previous benefits system in this respect? How widespread is this problem? To what extent are any increases in prevalence directly attributable to Universal Credit? Are some claimants at particular risk of turning to “survival sex”? If so, who are they and what are the risk factors? What changes to Universal Credit could help tackle this problem and better protect claimants? What role should Jobcentre Plus play in supporting claimants who are involved in “survival sex” or sex work more widely? You can share your story or evidence - we’d like to hear from you by Monday 29 April 2019 . We will also hear oral evidence in Parliament later in this inquiry. Show less

1 Report

2 Oral sessions

4 Letters

2 Events

Activity timeline 9 events

5 Nov
2019

Correspondence

Letter from the Chair to Will Quince MP, Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance re letter from Will Quince MP dated 27…

5 Nov
2019

Correspondence

Letter from Will Quince MP, Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance, re follow-up of evidence session 12 June 2019

25 Oct
2019

Report published

2nd Report - Universal Credit and “survival sex”

12 Jun
2019

Oral evidence

Oral evidence session

12 Jun
2019

Correspondence

Letter from Will Quince MP to Chair regarding Universal Credit and 'survival sex' - dated 6 June 2019

12 Jun
2019

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

Committee event

6 Jun
2019

Correspondence

Letter from Chair to Will Quince MP, Dept. for Work and Pensions, concerning survival sex evidence - May 2019

22 May
2019

Oral evidence

Oral evidence session

22 May
2019

Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Thatcher Room, Portcullis House

Committee event

Oral evidence sessions 2 sessions

12 Jun 2019

View on parliament.uk

22 May 2019

View on parliament.uk

Reports 1 report · click to expand

Title	HC No.	Published	Items	Response
2nd Report - Universal Credit and “survival sex”	HC 83	25 Oct 2019	0

Correspondence 4 letters

5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from the Chair to Will Quince MP, Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance re letter from Will Quince MP dated 27 June 2019

Parliament page

5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Will Quince MP, Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance, re follow-up of evidence session 12 June 2019

Parliament page

12 Jun 2019 To committee Letter from Will Quince MP to Chair regarding Universal Credit and 'survival sex' - dated 6 June 2019

Parliament page

6 Jun 2019 To committee Letter from Chair to Will Quince MP, Dept. for Work and Pensions, concerning survival sex evidence - May 2019

Parliament page