Universal Credit – Parliamentary Written Answer

Mike Weatherley: To ask the Secretary of State what circumstances will trigger the automatic payment of the housing element of universal credit direct to a private sector landlord instead of to a tenant.

Steve Webb: As part of the transition to Universal Credit, claimants will receive the single monthly payment which will contain an element payable for rent.  We recognise that some claimants may need additional help to budget, particularly during the transitional period. As a first step, claimants will be offered budgeting support products and services. Where it is evident that a claimant cannot manage a single monthly payment effectively an alternative payment arrangement will be considered. This could include the payment of housing costs direct to the landlord.  The Direct Payment Demonstration projects have been set up to help inform the development of the criteria for determining when it would be appropriate to make a payment direct to a landlord therefore the detailed process is still being developed.