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Written question asked by Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour) on Wednesday, 7 December 2016, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 21 December 2016. It was answered by Lord Freud (Conservative) on Wednesday, 14 December 2016 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Universal Credit: Refugees

Question

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what evidence, if any, they have of people who have been granted refugee status facing problems claiming universal credit because they do not have a bank account.

Answer

The Department does not track individual claims made by refugees. However, where people have problems getting a bank account, they are not prevented from making a claim for Universal Credit. Furthermore, DWP in conjunction with the Home Office, are currently piloting a new process to assist asylum seekers granted refugee status and needing support to make a claim to benefits.

Officials are currently assessing the data for Universal Credit and will only release information once the necessary quality assurance work has taken place. These statistics will be published in accordance with the relevant protocols in the Code of Practice for official statistics. The Department does not track individual claims made by refugees and therefore this information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL3928
Session
2016-17
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Bank services Refugees Universal credit
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk