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<p>We carefully balance our duty to the taxpayer to recover overpayments, with support
for claimants. Safeguards are in place to ensure deductions are manageable. From 12
April 2021, we further reduced the cap on deductions from Universal Credit awards
to 25 per cent and lengthened the period from 12 to 24 months, meaning in effect someone
can receive 25 payments over 24 months, giving them more flexibility over the payments
of their Universal Credit award. This will also allow claimants to retain more of
their award, giving additional financial security, and follows a previous change in
October 2019 that reduced the cap from 40% to 30%.</p><p> </p><p>Customers can contact
the Department if they are experiencing financial hardship to discuss a reduction
in their rate of repayment, depending on their financial circumstances, whilst work
coaches can also signpost claimants to other financial support.</p><p> </p><p>The
information requested is provided in the attached spreadsheet.</p>
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