Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Terminally ill people already face thousands of pounds of additional costs because of their illness,...
Recommendation
Terminally ill people already face thousands of pounds of additional costs because of their illness, and the money provided by Universal Credit counts more than ever. We welcome the fact that the Department has been reviewing how the Special Rules are working, but that review has now lasted for more than a year. We urge the Government to publish its review without further delay, no later than 30 November
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
There is not a need for a starter payment in UC as New Claim Advances are available urgently to claimants if they are in need of financial help. As a result, nobody has to wait for a payment in UC. Claimants who require an Advance will have their UC award spread across thirteen payments in a year rather than twelve. From October 2021, we will give claimants the option to spread twenty-five payments over twenty-four months. Even with a verification check two weeks after a claim has been made, the introduction of non-repayable advances would increase fraud risk in the welfare system, as well as imposing the administrative burden of extra verification checks. Additionally, people with sufficient earnings or income with little or no entitlement to UC, could inappropriately gain, by speculatively claiming in order to obtain a non-repayable sum upfront. UC already has an established fast track process for terminally ill claimants. This means, that on receipt of a valid DS1500 into the Department, a claimant with UC entitlement may be determined as having Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity (LCWRA) without any requirement to refer the case for a Work Capability Assessment. It also means the LCWRA additional amount is awarded from day 1 of the UC claim.