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Daily Mirror
18-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
DWP explains Universal Credit payment rule and admits system 'could work better'
An MP warned that some claimants are 'trapped' waiting for their payments to arrive The DWP has explained how Universal Credit payments work after concerns that some claimants have to wait weeks for their cash to arrive. MP Jamie Stone raised the issue of the five-week wait that claimants face until they get their first payment. He was talking about people on older legacy benefits who have to move over to Universal Credit. The benefit is replacing six benefits which are gradually being phased out. These six benefits are being replaced by Universal Credit: Income-based Jobseekers Allowance Income-related Employment and Support Allowance Income Support Housing Benefit Child Tax Credit Working Tax Credit. People on key DWP benefit could get up to £447 every month next year The DWP is writing to people on these benefits to invite them to apply for Universal Credit - and anyone on them needs to apply or their payments will stop. Speaking about people in this situation, Mr Stone said in Parliament: "The trouble is that they have to wait five weeks until they get their first cash. How will they make ends meet? "What about the direct debits? I worry about that." He also told Labour ministers they should look at making changes to the policy as "people are really caught in a trap". Guidance on the website about moving to Universal Credit sets out this timeframe: "Your claim starts on the day you submit it in your account, however it usually takes around five weeks to get your first payment." What extra support is available to people moving to Universal Credit? The DWP was asked for a comment about what support is available to people who struggle to get by during this five-week interval. A spokesperson said: "We support millions of people through Universal Credit every year, and it remains a top priority for us to ensure they get the support they are entitled to. Advances are available for new and existing customers that urgently need support. "People moving on to Universal Credit also receive a two-week extension of their legacy benefits." This extension applies to people moving over from Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance, Housing Benefit or Income Support. This is on top of the Transition to Universal Credit Housing Payment, a two-week extension of Housing Benefit. The department also explained the reason for the five-week wait to get your first payment. READ MORE: PIP applicants issued key advice by former DWP assessor after cut 'delays' As the benefit is assessed and paid monthly and paid in arrears, it's not possible to award a payment as soon as a claim comes in, but rather the assessment period needs to run its course before the award can be calculated. If you apply for an advance payment, you have to pay back the amount in instalments, out of your future Universal Credit payments. The DWP also acknowledged that improvements could be made to the system. The spokesperson said: "We recognise Universal Credit could work better for people, which is why we're reviewing it, including how best to support people before they receive their first payment." How much is Universal Credit? These are the current rates for the monthly Universal Credit standard allowance: If you're single and under 25 - £316.98 If you're single and 25 or over - £400.14 If you live with your partner and you're both under 25 - £497.55 (for you both) If you live with your partner and either of you are 25 or over - £628.10 (for you both).
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
DWP says 200,000 disabled benefit claimants are ready to work
The DWP has been urged not cut disability benefits could after new government figures said 200,000 people claiming health and disability benefits are ready to get back into work now if the right job or support were available. The findings, released on Thursday and based on a government survey, found that just under a third — 32% — of those claiming health and disability benefits believe they can work now or in future. A total of 5% surveyed said that they would be ready now if the right job or support were available, equating to around 200,000 individuals. Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall said the figures were evidence of a broken benefits system. While charities and campaigners like Scope have welcomed the renewed support to get disabled people better work opportunities, it told Yahoo News that 'cutting disability benefits pushes disabled people into poverty right away, and does not move them into jobs". Recent reports have suggested the government wants to slash at least £3bn from the benefits bill, with a disability benefits green paper overhauling the system due in spring. As part of this, a total of 424,000 fewer people are expected to be assessed as having limited capability for work by 2028/2029 as a result of reforms, accounting for the savings. The government has repeatedly reiterated it will take a tougher stance on benefits, warning that it is the only G7 country where employment levels who have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. For health-related benefits, the bill has reportedly risen 40% in real terms since 2013. However, this has sparked concern for disabled claimants who are reliant on the payments. Trust between the government and disabled people was said to be at an "all-time low", as a new report revealed that those claiming disability benefits wait on average 10 times longer for their calls to be answered by the DWP. Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall claimed the survey's findings indicate "serious" failures within the benefits system, which is "letting down" people with mental health conditions who want to work. 'People claiming health and disability benefits have been classed by the system as 'can't work' and shut out of jobs and have been ignored – when they've been crying out for support," she said. 'It's bad for people, bad for businesses, which miss out on considerable talent, and bad for the economy. For young people in particular, being out of work can have a scarring effect that lasts a lifetime." Minesh Patel, Associate Director of Policy and Influencing at mental health charity Mind told Yahoo News the government's commitment to supporting people to get into work was "welcome", but that it has to be "accompanied with ensuring our benefits system adequately supports those for whom work isn't possible." He said: 'We know there that are many people, including younger people, with mental health problems who would like to be able to work but don't have the right support available. "Tailored, voluntary and holistic support is most effective in supporting people with mental health problems to enter and stay in work, and this must be at the heart of any future reforms. 'The DWP must also make good on its commitment to work with disabled people on reshaping the health and disability system," Patel added. James Taylor, director of strategy at disability equality charity Scope, said that while the government getting people the support they need is "good", it is "imperative" that it "focuses its efforts on how to achieve this, instead of cutting the welfare budget." "This research shows there are many out of work who could work if given the right support," he told Yahoo News. Evan John, Policy Advisor at the national disability charity Sense, added that the research also found another stark statistic. 'The government's own research found three-quarters of disability benefit claimants are worried about being forced into jobs which will make their conditions worse," John told Yahoo News. "We therefore want to see assurances from the government that disabled people will not be pressured into unsuitable work for fear of losing their benefits," he said. Sense also wants to see "better specialised support" for disabled people who can work, like assistive technology like screen readers in every Jobcentre, as well as training work coaches on the challenges disabled people face finding work. "As the government develop the new jobs and careers service, putting accessibility at the heart of this is more important than ever," he added. Merry Cross, a member of Disabled People Against Cuts, said this is not just a health issue, it's a funding issue. "And which age-group within society is most likely to have mental distress? It's teenagers of course, the group that this and the last government most complain about for being out of work," she told Yahoo News. "Yet the funding and resources for mental health services have been savaged over recent years, with a report by the Children's Commissioner in March 2024 stating that almost a quarter of a million children who had been referred for treatment in 2023 were still waiting."
