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<p>The Department does not keep official statistics on food bank use, so no such assessment
has been completed.</p><p> </p><p>The Trussell Trust have claimed that there is a
52% growth in food bank demand in areas where Universal Credit (UC) has rolled out,
however, the data used in this report is unrepresentative and therefore categorically
does not prove that UC is the reason behind increased food bank usage. With UC people
can get paid urgently if they need it and we’ve changed the system so people can receive
even more money in the first two weeks than under the old system.</p><p> </p><p>In
common with the legacy benefit system, and also the structures used by employers’
payroll systems, UC is not paid immediately at the beginning of a claim but follows
a predictable payment cycle. Assessment periods ensure UC entitlement is accurately
calculated each month, responding efficiently to changes in household circumstances
including employment earnings.</p><p> </p><p>The Department continues to design and
implement improvements to UC. We have already abolished the 7-day waiting period and
continue to pay Housing Benefit for two weeks when people move to Universal Credit.
New run-ons will be introduced from July 2020 for claimants transitioning from other
DWP legacy benefits, which will be paid during the first assessment period and provide
a one-off gain of approximately £200.</p>
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