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Written question asked by Carla Lockhart (Democratic Unionist Party) on Thursday, 12 March 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 March 2026 (named day). It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Monday, 23 March 2026 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.


Social Security Benefits: Surrogacy

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether payments received by a surrogate mother in the UK are treated as income for the purposes of benefits assessments.

Answer

Surrogacy payments in the United Kingdom should only be for reasonable expenses. They are not taken into account as income for Universal Credit purposes. If any of the surrogacy payment is unspent in the period it is paid for, then this can be treated as capital if not spent by the end of the next assessment period. The normal capital rules apply to the build-up of unspent income if capital exceeds £6,000.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
120434
Session
2024-26
Related items
Social Security Benefits: Surrogacy
Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Social security benefits Surrogacy
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk