Universal credit is the greatest modernisation of the welfare system in a generation – and it is helping people improve their lives through work. I know, though, that for some people it’s a big change. That’s why we have support in place for those who need extra help. So it’s unhelpful when new claimants are needlessly worried by scaremongering and inaccurate reports. Recently it was incorrectly reported on Twitter and then in the Guardian that a single mother would be without any financial support over Christmas while she moved on to universal credit (Behind the story that made a Tory MP cry, 18 December).
The truth is, she received an advance payment of £688 on the same day the Guardian ran its story, and four days after she had submitted her claim to universal credit. That was not as a consequence of publicity surrounding her case, but universal credit working as it should.
There’s no reason for people to be without money over Christmas because advance payments are widely available, if they cannot wait for their first payment. And in the budget we announced a £1.5bn wide-ranging package of measures to address issues that offer significantly more support than a simple reduction in the wait for the first payment.
That includes continuing to pay two weeks’ rent for people already in receipt of housing benefit while they move on to universal credit; removing the seven-day wait period; and increasing advance payments to 100% of their indicative universal credit award and extending the repayment period to a year. These changes will come into play by the spring, starting with the improvements to advance payments in January.
David Gauke
Secretary of state for work and pensions
