Minister to face joint Lords and Commons select committee questions on failure to reform Universal Credit
On Tuesday 9 March at 3pm, the Lords Economic Affairs Committee and Commons Work and Pensions Committee hold a concurrent evidence session following the Government’s responses to both committees' reports on Universal Credit. The committees will hear from Will Quince MP, Minister for Welfare Delivery at the Department for Work and Pensions. He will be accompanied by Neil Couling, Senior Responsible Owner of Universal Credit at the Department for Work and Pensions.
Meeting details
At 3:00pm: Oral evidence
Inquiries
The economics of Universal Credit, and Universal Credit: the wait for a first payment
Likely topics for discussion:
- The extension of the £20 increase to Universal Credit
- Lack of additional support for legacy benefit claimants
- Starter payments to alleviate hardship during the five-week wait
- Link between the wait for Universal Credit’s first payment and rising food bank use
- Historic tax credit debt
- The monthly assessment and frequency of payments
- Support for vulnerable claimants
- Balancing the use of sanctions as a deterrent and the claimant’s security of income