{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answeringDeptId=29&tablingMemberConstituency=North+Norfolk", "definition" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?answeringDeptId=29&tablingMemberConstituency=North+Norfolk", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answeringDeptId=29&tablingMemberConstituency=North+Norfolk&_metadata=all", "first" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=0&answeringDeptId=29&tablingMemberConstituency=North+Norfolk", "hasPart" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answeringDeptId=29&tablingMemberConstituency=North+Norfolk", "isPartOf" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answeringDeptId=29&tablingMemberConstituency=North+Norfolk", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1733021", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1733021/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The current financial year, which runs from 06/04/24 to 05/04/25, does not contain 53 Mondays.<\/p>

<\/p>

Universal Credit always converts weekly amounts to monthly sums using 52 weeks.\u202fThe legitimacy of this approach was confirmed by the High Court having been tested via a judicial review.<\/p>

<\/p>

Every five or six\u202fyears, weekly tenants may have\u202fa rent charging year containing 53 charging days. This will not apply in all cases and some claimants will not have a 53-week charging year\u202fduring the life of their benefit claim.<\/p>

<\/p>

The rent charging year beginning 1 April 2024 and ending on 6 April 2025 is one such year and is of a period which exceeds one calendar year and is not aligned to a financial year. The 53rd payment covers\u202fthe tenancy for part of the following calendar year.<\/p>

<\/p>

Most people in work are paid monthly, as is Universal Credit, and they budget for their outgoings on a monthly basis. Weekly rental liabilities do not map directly onto a monthly cycle and this creates budgeting complexities for tenants. They will be required to make only four payments of rent in some months but five payments in others even though their monthly income remains constant. This problem exists in all rent charging years, not just those with 53 Mondays.<\/p>

<\/p>

The Government will consider this issue as part of its wider work on Universal Credit.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/163", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Ham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Sir Stephen Timms"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2024-10-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2024-10-14T11:58:23.063Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2024-10-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Universal Credit"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of 53 Mondays in this financial year on rent payments for Universal Credit claimants .", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/5164", "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Norfolk"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Steff Aquarone"} ], "uin" : "8343"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1696244", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1696244/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The Youth Offer launched on the 20 September 2020 and provides support for 16\u201324-year-olds who are on Universal Credit to help them move into employment. It includes three elements:<\/p>

<\/p>