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Select Committee · Work and Pensions Committee

Universal Credit inquiry

Status: Closed Opened: 13 Sep 2017 Closed: 5 Nov 2019 6 reports
Inquiry scopeUniversal Credit is the Government’s flagship welfare reform programme, which involves merging 6 existing benefits into 1, paid as a single, monthly payment. The Department for Work and Pensions began work on Universal Credit in 2010. Universal Credit was rolled out fully across the country by December 2018. The Department expects that all claimants will be ‘migrated’ from existing benefits to Universal Credit by the end of 2023. The Work and Pensions Committee has held several inquiries on Universal Credit. These inquiries look at how UC is designed, how it is working in practice, and how the Department plans to move existing claimants over to Universal Credit. We’ve listened to concerns that people have about Universal Credit, and made recommendations to the Government for changes. You can read more about our Universal Credit inquiries using the links on the left hand side of this page. The individual inquiry pages include links to published oral and written evidence, as well as our reports and the Government’s responses. Our current open inquiries on Universal Credit include: Universal Credit: natural migration Universal Credit: in-work progression follow-up Universal Credit and survival sex

Reports

6 reports

Oral evidence sessions

12 sessions

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Date Session and witnesses Source
14 Nov 2018 No witnesses recorded View ↗
24 Oct 2018 No witnesses recorded View ↗
18 Oct 2018 No witnesses recorded View ↗
4 Jul 2018 No witnesses recorded View ↗
23 May 2018 No witnesses recorded View ↗
24 Apr 2018 No witnesses recorded View ↗
18 Apr 2018 No witnesses recorded View ↗
24 Jan 2018 No witnesses recorded View ↗
17 Jan 2018 No witnesses recorded View ↗
29 Nov 2017 No witnesses recorded View ↗
18 Oct 2017 No witnesses recorded View ↗
13 Sep 2017 No witnesses recorded View ↗

Correspondence

126 letters

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PublishedDirectionLetter
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Chair to Minister for Employment, re Universal Credit youth obligation 9 July 2019
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Chair to Minister for Employment re Universal Credit decision letter 23 July 2019
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Permanent Secretary, DWP, re Universal Credit fraud, dated 22 July 2019
5 Nov 2019 From committee Letter to Chief Executive Citizens Advice and Chief Executive Citizens Advice Scotland, relating to Help to Claim Service, October 2019
5 Nov 2019 From committee Letter to the Secretary of State relating to Universal Credit, October 2019
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Head of Policy Advice NI re Tax Credit overpayments and Universal Credit, 8 August 2019
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Chair to Chief Executive Z2K re Work Capability Assessments (WCAs) decision letter, 3 September 2019
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Minister for Disabled People Health and Work re Work Capability Assessments (WCAs) decision letter, 22 August 2019
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Minister for Welfare Delivery re UC decision notifications, 1 September 2019
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Chair to Minister for Disabled People Health and Work re Work Capability Assessments (WCAs) decision letter, 29 July 2019
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Carl Emmerson, Deputy Director, Institute for fiscal Studies re Universal’s Credit impact on household incomes - dated 20 May 2019
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, re Universal Credit and 53 week rent year - dated 21 May 2019
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Justin Tomlinson MP, Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, re Special Rules for Terminal Illness (SRTI) - dated 5 March 2019
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, re Universal Credit and Tax Credit research - dated 30 April 2019
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from the Chair to Gareth Davies, Comptroller and Auditor General, National Audit Office, re fraud in Universal Credit advances
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Sir Jonathan Thompson KCB, Chief Executive and Permanent Secretary, HMRC, re collection of tax credit overpayments from UC claimants
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, re UC communications campaign in the Metro
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, re DWP’s guidance on decision making and evidence - dated 2 April 2019
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, re UC response to letter dated 6 March - dated 29 March 2019
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, re EEA nationals and domestic abuse
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Peter Schofield CB, Permanent Secretary, DWP, re Split Payments in Scotland
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Neil Couling CBE, Director General, Universal Credit Programme, re UC Payment Flexibilities
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Neil Couling CBE, Director General, Universal Credit Programme, re UC Migration Notices and Transitional Protection
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Brian Simpson, Chief Executive, Magenta Living regarding UC 53 week rent year
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, re Universal Credit, 29 January 2019
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Alok Sharma MP, Minister of State for Employment, re Universal Credit and Universal Support dated, 1 October 2018
5 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from the Rt Hon Esther McVey MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, re NAO report on tackling problem debt, dated 12 September 2018
4 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP Secretary of State re UC Student Loans, 22 January 2019
4 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP Secretary of State for Work and Pensions re UC sharing personal information 22 January 2019
4 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Neil Couling CBE, Director General, Universal Credit Programme, re Universal Credit adverts, dated 14 November 2018
4 Nov 2019 — Correspondence from Public and Commercial Services Union, re Universal Credit managed migration and the Budget 2018, dated 30 October 2018
4 Nov 2019 — Correspondence from the Rt Hon Esther McVey MP, Secretary of State, re Universal Credit, dated 6 November 2018
4 Nov 2019 — Correspondence from Matthew Reed, Chief Executive, The Children’s Society, re Universal Credit managed migration and disabled children dated 5 November 2018
4 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Jonathan Broadbery, Head of Policy and External Relations, National Day Nurseries Association, re Universal Credit and childcare costs, dated 15 November 2018
4 Nov 2019 To committee Letter from Shirley-Anne Somerville Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People Scottish Govt. re Universal credit, 7 November 2019
24 Sep 2019 To committee Letter from Secretary of State to Chair in relation to maternity allowance - dated 3 July 2019
19 Sep 2019 To committee Letter from the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, regarding the revised DS 1500 guidance to clinicians, 3 May 2019
9 Sep 2019 To committee Letter from Chair to Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, re compensation for former SDP claimants 2019-08-29
9 Sep 2019 To committee Letter from Comptroller and Auditor General, National Audit Office, re fraud in Universal Credit advances 2019-07-24
9 Sep 2019 To committee Letter from Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, re Universal Credit 2019-07-23
9 Sep 2019 To committee Letter from Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance, re Universal Credit – supplementary information 2019-07-23
5 Sep 2019 To committee Letter from Permanent Secretary for Department for Communities Northern Ireland, relating to UC payment flexibilities - dated 11 February 2019
3 Sep 2019 To committee Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People to Chair relating to Universal Credit split payments - dated 12 June 2019
3 Sep 2019 To committee Letter from Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People to Chair, relating to Universal Credit split payments - dated 12 February 2019
3 Sep 2019 To committee Letter from Chair to Permanent Secretary relating to split payments of Universal Credit in Scotland - dated 4 March 2019
3 Sep 2019 To committee Letter from the Chair to Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, relating to UC split payments - dated 11 March 2019
3 Sep 2019 To committee Letter from Permanent Secretary to Chair relating to UC split payments in Scotland - dated 20 March 2019
9 Jul 2019 To committee Letter from Chair to Peter Schofield regarding Universal Credit fraud - dated 9 July 2019
7 May 2019 From committee Letter to Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, regarding Universal Credit support with housing costs, dated 25 April 2019
11 Apr 2019 To committee Letter from Chair to Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, regarding Universal Credit announcements, dated 11 January 2019
11 Apr 2019 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, regarding Universal Credit, dated 31 January 2019
5 Mar 2019 To committee Letter from Sarah Newton to Frank Field regarding Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit - dated 19 February 2019
5 Mar 2019 To committee Letter from Guy Opperman MP to Frank Field regarding Changes to income-related benefits for mixed-age couples - dated 15 January 2019
5 Mar 2019 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Amber Rudd to Frank Field regarding policy to provide support for a maximum of two children - dated 17 January 2019
5 Mar 2019 To committee Letter from Neil Couling to Frank Field regarding Universal Credit: unit costs - dated 17 January 2019
15 Feb 2019 To committee Letter from Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, re UC EIAs - 5 January 2019
1 Feb 2019 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State to Frank Field MP, regarding universal credit court ruling, dated 24 January 2019
20 Jan 2019 To committee Letter from Gillian Guy, Chief Executive, Citizens Advice regarding Universal Credit payments - dated 14 January 2019
20 Jan 2019 — The Trussell Trust to Neil Couling regarding Advance Payments - dated 21 December 2018
20 Jan 2019 — The Trussell Trust to Frank Field and Work and Pensions Committee regarding Advance Payments - dated 21 December 2018
20 Jan 2019 — Frank Field to Neil Couling - dated 18 December 2018
20 Jan 2019 — Neil Couling to Frank Field regarding Universal Credit Advance Payments - dated 19 December 2018
20 Jan 2019 — Frank Field to Citizens Advice regarding Universal Credit Advance Payments - dated 20 December 2018
17 Jan 2019 — Frank Field to Amber Rudd regarding Universal Credit and mixed aged couples - dated 17 January 2019
14 Jan 2019 To committee Letter from Neil Couling, Director General, Universal Credit Programme regarding Universal Credit - unit costs, dated 14 November 2018
11 Jan 2019 — Frank Field to SoS regarding court ruling - dated 11.01.2019
18 Dec 2018 From committee Letter to Frank Field from Justin Tomlinson 27.11.18
18 Dec 2018 From committee Letter to Frank Field from Justin Tomlinson 15.11.18
18 Dec 2018 To committee Letter from the Office for Budget Responsibility to the Chair, dated 2 November 2018
18 Dec 2018 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Permanent Secretary, regarding Universal Credit data, dated 14 December 2018
13 Dec 2018 — From FF to SoS regarding managed migration - 12.12.18
22 Nov 2018 — Alok Sharma to Frank Field regarding Managed Migration-8.11.2018
22 Nov 2018 — Estcher McVey to Frank Field regarding Universal Credit-13.11.2-18
4 Nov 2018 — Frank Field to Alok Sharma regarding managed migration-2.11.18
4 Nov 2018 — Alok Sharma to Frank Field regarding Managed Migration to Universal Credit-1.11.18
22 Oct 2018 — Frank Field to Neil Couling re. NAO report, 25 June 2018
22 Oct 2018 — Secretary of State to Frank Field re. Universal Support, 11 September
22 Oct 2018 — Frank Field to Secretary of State re. managed migration, August 2018
19 Oct 2018 — Frank Field MP writes to Neil Couling regarding Universal Credit adverts
18 Oct 2018 — Secretary of State to Frank Field regarding Universal Credit debt and deductions-12.10.2018
18 Oct 2018 — Neil Couling to Frank Field regarding NAO Rolling out Universal Credit report-18.10.2018
18 Oct 2018 — Citizens Advice to Frank Field regarding Universal Support-11.10.2018
18 Oct 2018 — Alok Sharma to Frank Field regarding Universal Support-11.10.2018
17 Oct 2018 — Correspondence from Alok Sharma to Frank Field regarding Universal Support-23.07.2018
11 Oct 2018 — Frank Field to Sir Amyas Morse regarding managed migration – 10.10.2018
11 Oct 2018 — Frank Field to Alok Sharma regarding managed migration – 10.10.2018
10 Oct 2018 To committee Letter from Chair Frank Field MP to Scottish government regarding split payments
6 Sep 2018 To committee Letter from Chair to Esther McVey on Universal Support and NAO report on Tackling Problem Debt, 6 September 2018
4 Jul 2018 To committee Letter from Amyas Morse to Esther McVey on Universal Credit, 4 July 2018
3 Jul 2018 To committee Letter from Kit Malthouse to the Chair on Universal Credit split payment to couples, 15 May 2018
3 Jul 2018 To committee Letter from Kit Malthouse to the Chair on Universal Credit and Jobcentres, 22 May 2018
3 Jul 2018 To committee Letter from Jeane Freeman to the Chair on Universal Credit provision for survivers of domestic abuse, 9 May 2018
15 Jun 2018 To committee Letter from Frank Field to Neil Couling on Universal Credit claimant survey and Universal Support, 13 June 2018
15 Jun 2018 To committee Letter from Frank Field to Neil Couling on Universal Credit claimant survey and Universal Support, 13 June 2018
15 Jun 2018 To committee Letter from Frank Field to Neil Couling on Universal Credit claimant survey, 13 June 2018
30 May 2018 From committee Letter to the Chair from PCS regarding Universal Credit and domestic abuse, 14 May 2018
17 Apr 2018 To committee Letter from Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance to the Chair regarding Universal Credit and domestic abuse victims, 27 March 2018
17 Apr 2018 To committee Letter from the Chair to Minister of State for Employment regarding Universal Credit for victims of domestic abuse, 15 March 2018
26 Mar 2018 To committee Letter from IFS to the Chair regarding Universal Credit, 19 March 2018
26 Mar 2018 To committee Letter from the Chair to IFS regarding Universal Credit, 12 March 2018
26 Mar 2018 To committee Letter from the Chair to Minister for Employment regarding Universal Credit, 23 February 2018
26 Mar 2018 To committee Letter from Minister for Employment to the Chair regarding Universal Credit, 12 March 2018
27 Feb 2018 To committee Letter from Alok Sharma to the Chair regarding Universal Credit, 6 February 2018
18 Dec 2017 To committee Letter from the Chair to the SoS (DWP) relating to UC assessments, 13 December 2017
18 Dec 2017 To committee Letter from the SoS (DWP) to the Chair relating to UC assessments, 12 December 2017
12 Dec 2017 To committee Letter from SoS (DWP) to the Chair relating to Universal Credit project assessment reports, 11 December 2017
12 Dec 2017 To committee Letter from the Chair to SoS (DWP) relating to Universal Credit project assessment reports, 12 December 2017
11 Dec 2017 To committee Letter from Secretary of State (DWP) to the Chair relating to Universal Credit project assessment reports, 7 December 2017
11 Dec 2017 To committee Letter from the Chair to Secretary of State (DWP) relating to Universal Credit project assessment reports, 8 December 2017
6 Dec 2017 From committee Letter to Secretary of State Rt Hon David Gauke re receipt of Universal Credit project assessment reviews 61217
23 Nov 2017 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State (DWP) to the Chair relating to Universal Credit business case, 13 November 2017
22 Nov 2017 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State (DWP) relating to Universal Credit, 21 November 2017
20 Nov 2017 To committee Letter from Jeane Freeman OBE MSP, Minister for Social Security re Scottish Universal Credit Choices 07-11-17
15 Nov 2017 To committee Letter from the Chair to Secretary of State (DWP) relating to Universal Credit and self-employment, 7 November 2017
8 Nov 2017 To committee Letter from the Chair to Secretary of State (DWP) relating to Universal Credit data, 1 November 2017
8 Nov 2017 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State (DWP) relating to Universal Credit business case 27 October 2017
8 Nov 2017 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Secretary of State (DWP) relating to Universal Credit business case 27 October 2017
26 Oct 2017 To committee Letter from Neil Couling CBE to correct the oral evidence given on 18 October 2017
18 Oct 2017 — Summary of Secretary of States response on Universal Credit, 18 October 2017
18 Oct 2017 To committee Letter from Secretary of State to the Chair relating to Universal Credit queries, 17 October 2017
16 Oct 2017 To committee Letter from the Chair to David Gauke MP relating to Universal Credit, 9 October 2017
10 Oct 2017 To committee Letter from the Chair to Secretary of State for Work and Pensions relating to Advance payments of Universal Credit, dated 2 October 2017
22 Sep 2017 To committee Letter from Damian Hinds MP regarding social rented sector landlords and Universal Credit 21-09-17
20 Sep 2017 From committee Letter to David Gauke MP re. Universal Credit, 15 September 2017
20 Sep 2017 From committee Letter to David Gauke MP, re. Universal Credit, 12 September 2017
13 Sep 2017 To committee Letter from Secretary of State to Frank Field re Universal Credit 8 Aug 2017