Source · Select Committees · Scottish Affairs Committee
Recommendation 139
139
This point was illustrated further by Kirsty McKechnie of the Child Poverty Action Group.
Conclusion
This point was illustrated further by Kirsty McKechnie of the Child Poverty Action Group. They argued that the initial five-week wait for a first payment would put claimants off opting for the twice-monthly choice as it would leave claimants with too little money to get by: 331 Q56 332 Q86 333 Scottish Affairs Committee, Welfare Policy in Scotland: What we learned, March 2021 334 Scottish Government, Universal Credit Scottish choices: evaluation, March 2021, Page.vi 335 Scottish Government, Universal Credit Scottish choices: evaluation, March 2021, Page.vi 336 Scottish Government, Universal Credit Scottish choices: evaluation, March 2021, Page.vi and Page 8 337 Written evidence received by the Scottish Affairs Committee, HC (2017–19) 2269, Citizens Advice Scotland (WIS0010) 50 Welfare policy in Scotland it is difficult for people to uptake the twice-monthly payments because, once you have had the five-week wait, you only receive half the payment. I think that can be prohibitive to people being able to take it up because they cannot afford to wait another two weeks or longer for that subsequent payment.338 As noted by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations: ‘It would therefore not be surprising if the claimant felt that more frequent payments were not an attractive option’.339
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
The Scottish Government’s current policy is to offer Scottish Choices in the second assessment period. This allows time, in the first assessment period, to consider DWP Alternative Payment Arrangement, for more frequent payments and managed payments to landlords to protect vulnerable people who are at risk of not paying their rent. Social landlords are also able to request a DWP Alternative Payment Arrangement from day one, if they believe their tenants are vulnerable. Scottish Choices do not replace the need for DWP Alternative Payment Arrangements. Claimants can opt in or out of a Scottish Choice at any time. Only DWP agents can review Alternative Payment Arrangements, ensuring housing costs continue to be paid directly to the landlord, for those who may otherwise choose not to pay them.