The government has rejected a recommendation from the Lords Select Committee on Financial Exclusion to allow flexibility so that Universal Credit payments might be made twice monthly in England and Wales.
The option of twice monthly payments will be possible by the devolved Governments of Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Responding to the Committee, the Government said it does recognise that the move to a single monthly household payment is a significant change, especially for vulnerable claimants.
However, it adds:
“That is why the flexibility already exists in England, Scotland and Wales to put in place alternative payment arrangements, including more frequent payments such as twice a month, for claimants who struggle to manage monthly payments.”
The Government also rejects the Lords Committee’s recommendations that it:
- abolish the seven-day waiting period at the start of a Universal Credit claim;
- allow tenants in receipt of Universal Credit in England and Wales to decide for themselves whether their housing costs should be paid to them or direct to their landlord;
- conduct a detailed, comprehensive cumulative impact study of how changes in social security policy resulting from the Welfare Reform Act 2012 might have adversely affected financial wellbeing and inclusion.
For more information see The Lords Select Committee March 2017 report Tackling financial exclusion: A country that works for everyone? and Response to the final report of the Lords Select Committee on Financial Exclusion from gov.uk
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