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<p>The Government recognises the importance of safeguarding the welfare of claimants
who have incurred debt. Universal Credit already has procedures and regulations in
place to protect claimants from excessive deductions. Last resort deductions can be
applied to protect vulnerable claimants from eviction and/or having their gas, electricity
and water cut off, by providing a last resort repayment method for arrears of these
essential services. If a claimant is in financial difficulty as a result of the level
of deductions being made, they can contact the Department to request that a reduction
in their deductions be considered.</p><p> </p><p>The latest available data is for
eligible claims to UC Full Service that are due a payment in December 2018. Of those
claims with a payment in December 2018 relating to the first month of their claim,
2% have a deduction to repay rent arrears. This equates to 3,000 claims.</p><p> </p><p>Notes</p><ul><li>Rent
arrears deductions are defined as arrears of rent and/or service charges relating
to a rented property</li><li>Figures for rent arrears deduction include only those
claims with a non-zero rent arrears deduction.</li><li>Figures rounded to nearest
1,000.</li></ul>
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