| answer text |
<p>The breathing space scheme launched on 4 May 2021, and includes most personal debts
and debts owed to Government, including Universal Credit overpayments. The Government
considers that, for breathing space to be successful, it needs to include a wide range
of debts.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises the importance of including all
Universal Credit debts in breathing space, and is committed to including Universal
Credit advances within the scheme as soon as possible.</p><p> </p><p>This will happen
at a later date to ensure that the significant IT changes the Department for Work
and Pensions needs to make do not compromise the safe delivery of Universal Credit,
which is now supporting 6 million people. It has always been possible to defer repayments
of Universal Credit Advances for 3 months in cases of hardship. In addition, from
April 2021, the timeframe for the repayment of advances has been extended from 12
months to 24 months.</p>
|
 |
