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<p>No assessment has been made of the effect of Universal Credit on the wellbeing
of claimants who are also in receipt of maternity allowance, during the covid-19 outbreak.</p><p>
</p><p>Universal Credit is replacing a complex system of six legacy benefits with
a single monthly payment and through a simple taper system ensures claimants are better
off in work, keeping more of what they earn compared to the legacy benefit system.
It is a longstanding principle of the welfare system that benefits are not paid to
claimants with income available from other sources to support themselves.</p><p><em>
</em></p><p>Where claimants have income available to meet their everyday living costs,
their entitlement to Universal Credit is adjusted accordingly. This includes other
benefits such as new style Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance
and Maternity Allowance.</p><p> </p><p>Maternity Allowance is a health and safety
measure to enable women to stop work in the later stages of pregnancy and after childbirth
in the interest of their own, and their baby’s, health and wellbeing.</p>
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