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<p>We have not made an assessment of this nature, we do not hold the data requested
for council tax arrears and any change in rent arrears is not solely attributed to
Universal Credit.</p><p>The initial analytical work we have carried out with a single
housing provider suggests that many tenants are arriving on Universal Credit with
pre-existing rent arrears, supporting research carried out by the National Federation
of ALMOs which shows over three quarters of their tenants come onto Universal Credit
with pre-existing rent arrears. It also shows that arrears tend to increase prior
to making a claim for Universal Credit, and that Universal Credit actually appears
to be helping to clear arrears over time. We are currently extending this analysis
to include a number of housing providers. It will be published when completed.</p><p>
</p><p>We have responded to concerns in this area by putting a number of safeguards
in place – 100 per cent advances repayable over 12 months, increasing to 16 months
in October 2021; a two-week transition to Universal Credit Housing Payment; a new
Help to Claim service; and Managed Payment to Landlord Arrangements, which allow for
payments direct to the landlord if the tenant is likely to have difficulty in managing
their rent payments, is unlikely to pay their rent or is in rent arrears equivalent
to two months.</p>
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