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Written question asked by Andy McDonald (Labour) on Thursday, 20 March 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 24 March 2025. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Friday, 28 March 2025 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Universal Credit: Public Consultation

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will launch a consultation on proposals to rebalance Universal Credit (a) standard allowance, (b) health element and (c) new payment rates.

Answer

We urgently need reform to stop people from falling into inactivity, restore trust and fairness in the system and promote the interests of disabled people. Therefore, there are some measures announced in the Pathways to Work Green Paper on the 18 March 2025, that we will not be consulting on.

The Pathways to Work Green Paper sets out our wider plan to reform the system by rebalancing the levels of the Universal Credit (UC) standard allowance and the UC health element. Our objective is a social security system which is pro-work but provides adequate financial support for people when they are not working, regardless of the reason. The changes to UC payment rates will be introduced in primary legislation, and so will be fully debated in Parliament, and are not subject to consultation.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
39849
Session
2024-26
Related items
Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working
Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
Subjects
Public consultation Universal credit
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk