Universal Credit: the wait for a first payment

Work and Pensions Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 9 Mar 2020 Closed: 2 Feb 2022 Parliament page
This inquiry looked at the five week wait that faces new Universal Credit claimants before receiving their first benefits payment. It examined the options that the Department for Work and Pensions could consider for reducing or ending the wait and explore other possible solutions. Read the call for evidence to … Read more
40 Recommendations
15 Conclusions
1 Report
6 Oral sessions
7 Letters
6 Events
Activity timeline 15 events
16 Jul
2021
Correspondence
12 Jan
2021
Report published
19 Oct
2020
Report published
24 Sep
2020
Correspondence
11 Sep
2020
Correspondence
11 Sep
2020
Correspondence
11 Sep
2020
Correspondence
2 Sep
2020
Oral evidence
28 Aug
2020
Correspondence
15 Jul
2020
Oral evidence
1 Jul
2020
Oral evidence
24 Jun
2020
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 6 sessions
2 Sep 2020
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Work and Pensions Committee meeting
Gareth Davies · Department for Transport Jonathan Davidson · Financial Conduct Authority Joshua Reddaway · National Audit Office Nisha Arora · Financial Conduct Authority
15 Jul 2020
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Work and Pensions Committee meeting
Neil Couling · Department for Work and Pensions Will Quince MP · Department for Education
1 Jul 2020
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Work and Pensions Committee meeting
Gareth Morgan · Ferret Information Systems Phil Booth · medConfidential Rt Hon Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP · Department for Work and Pensions Stephen Brien · Department for Work and Pensions The Baroness Stroud · Department for Work and Pensions Tom Loosemore · Public Digital
24 Jun 2020
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Work and Pensions Committee meeting
Adam Smith · Kent County Council Hugh Owen · Riverside Housing Group Jacqueline Hickmore · Cornwall Housing Jeremy Hewer · Scottish Federation of Housing Associations Laura Courtney · Community Housing Cymru Muhammed Butt · London Councils Noel Duke · Harrogate Borough Council Sheila McKandie · Highland Council Sue Ramsden · National Housing Federation
17 Jun 2020
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Work and Pensions Committee meeting
Anvar Sarygulov · Bright Blue Ben Fell · Policy in Practice Dr Mandy Cheetham · Teesside University Dr Sophie Wickham · Department of Public Health, Policy & Systems, University of Liverpool Mike Brewer · Resolution Foundation Nicholas Timmins · Institute for Government Patrick Spencer · Centre for Social Justice
10 Jun 2020
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Work and Pensions Committee meeting
Emma Revie · Trussell Trust Gemma Hope · Leonard Cheshire Iain Porter · Joseph Rowntree Foundation Jennifer Harrison · Changing Lives Mark Gale · Young Women's Trust Minesh Patel · Mind Peter Tutton · StepChange Tom Lee · Child Poverty Action Group
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Third Report: Universal Credit: the wait for a first payment HC 204 19 Oct 2020 55 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
Clear
32 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report: Universal Credit: th…
DWP must immediately make improvements to the Universal Credit system to formalise how it identifies...
DWP must immediately make improvements to the Universal Credit system to formalise how it identifies and defines vulnerable claimants, as part of its overall approach to safeguarding vulnerable people. This will be a substantial piece of work, and DWP should … Read more
Government Response
The government states it is working on collecting sensitive information to provide tailored support and monitor improvements for specific claimant cohorts, and that vulnerable accounts can already be flagged. However, it does not commit to a formalised system or timeline for defining and identifying vulnerable claimants as comprehensively recommended.
Department for Work and Pensions
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35 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report: Universal Credit: th…
We welcome the announcement of funding for the recruitment of over 13,500 new Work Coaches—double...
We welcome the announcement of funding for the recruitment of over 13,500 new Work Coaches—double the current number—over the next financial year. This is an ambitious programme of recruitment. The Committee would welcome a written update from the Department, by … Read more
Government Response
The government provides an update on Work Coach recruitment and details plans to maximise estates capacity, including using local authority space. However, they reject the request for monthly updates, stating they will provide 'relevant updates to Parliament' instead.
Department for Work and Pensions
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46 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report: Universal Credit: th…
We recommend that the Department publishes the guidance given to Work Coaches when they advise...
We recommend that the Department publishes the guidance given to Work Coaches when they advise people on APAs, to improve transparency in the process. The Department should make clear when and how a claimant is made aware of APAs both … Read more
Government Response
The government states it has published guidance on APAs and routinely publishes data, but rejects expanding current reporting on unsuccessful applications. It acknowledges providing tailored support for split payments where appropriate but does not agree a broader review is needed.
Department for Work and Pensions
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48 Conclusion Accepted in Part
Third Report: Universal Credit: th…
While Scottish Government data shows a quarter of people revert from More Frequent Payments under...
While Scottish Government data shows a quarter of people revert from More Frequent Payments under Scottish Choices, DWP’s research does not provide a detailed understanding of how the Department monitors how more frequent payments work for people, and what it … Read more
Government Response
The government commits to adding the recommendation to publish figures on claimants reverting from twice-monthly payments to its development programme. It also points to existing data on Alternative Payment Arrangements and data published by the Scottish Government.
Department for Work and Pensions
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49 Recommendation Accepted in Part
Third Report: Universal Credit: th…
We recommend that the DWP improve the quality and detail of its published data on...
We recommend that the DWP improve the quality and detail of its published data on alternative payments, by publishing its figures on how many people revert to monthly payments from the twice monthly payment option in England and Wales. DWP … Read more
Government Response
The government will add the recommendation to publish figures on how many people revert to monthly payments to its programme for development, and notes the Scottish Government already publishes management information on Scottish Choices.
Department for Work and Pensions
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Government Response AI assessment · 55 of 40 classified
Accepted 6
Accepted in Part 5
Acknowledged 8
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 12
Rejected 22
Total 40 recs + 15 conclusions
Correspondence 7 letters
16 Jul 2021 Correspondence with Minister for Welfare Delivery - joint meeting with House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee follow up
Parliament page
24 Sep 2020 Correspondence from NAO about net recovery rate of fraud and error on Universal Credit
Parliament page
11 Sep 2020 Correspondence with Minister for Welfare Delivery on Universal Credit: the wait for a first payment – follow up to 15.7 evidence session
Parliament page
11 Sep 2020 Correspondence with Financial Secretary to the Treasury on the impact of tax credits debt repayments on Universal Credit claimants
Parliament page
11 Sep 2020 Correspondence with the National Audit Office (NAO) on analysis of rent arrears of Universal Credit claimants
Parliament page
28 Aug 2020 Correspondence with the Financial Conduct Authority about best practice in the consumer lending
Parliament page
27 Apr 2020 Correspondence with the Minister for Welfare Delivery about first payments of Universal Credit
Parliament page