The Department for Work and Pensions is facing mounting pressure to abolish its controversial five-week waiting period for initial Universal Credit payments, with experts warning the policy is actively "pushing claimants into crisis" and causing severe financial hardship.
Growing Calls for Immediate Reform
The Labour government has been urged by prominent think tanks and welfare organisations to take immediate action and stop forcing benefit claimants to endure a wait of more than a month before receiving their first Universal Credit payment. This fundamental aspect of the system's design has come under intense scrutiny as evidence of its damaging impact continues to mount.
A System Creating Hardship
Under current DWP regulations, individuals applying for Universal Credit must navigate a mandatory five-week gap before their initial support arrives. The Resolution Foundation has highlighted this rule as a critical flaw, arguing it places vulnerable people in an untenable financial position from the very start of their claim.
One claimant, speaking to Yahoo News, detailed the personal toll: "Because universal credit is paid monthly, it's a big chunk of time where you're not receiving any money. I ended up having to pay back a week-and-a-half of my child tax credit to cover my advance. It makes it so much harder to budget." This testimony underscores the real-world struggle of managing essential costs during this prolonged payment void.
Experts Outline Necessary Changes
Professor Ruth Patrick, project lead of the Changing Realities research initiative, has outlined the essential reforms needed. She states that for Universal Credit to function effectively, the government "must overturn flaws in its original design, including the five-week wait for a first payment, rigid monthly assessment periods and problems with childcare support."
This sentiment is echoed by Lucy Bannister, head of policy and influencing at the charity Turn2Us, who criticised the DWP's approach: "When we are experiencing job loss, relationship breakdown or ill health, DWP too often leaves us feeling looked down upon, disrespected and misunderstood." Her comments point to a systemic issue beyond mere logistics, touching on the claimant experience itself.
DWP Response and Ongoing Review
In response to the criticism, a DWP spokesperson defended the department's record: "We support millions of people through universal credit every year, and it remains a top priority for us to ensure they get the support they are entitled to. We’ve taken action so parents can move into work and claim back most of their childcare costs."
The statement further detailed other supportive measures: "We’re also putting cash back into people’s pockets by boosting the standard rate of universal credit, and by changing the amount of debt that can be taken from customers allowing 1.2 million households to keep more of their money." However, the spokesperson acknowledged room for improvement, confirming: "But we recognise universal credit could work better for people, which is why we’re reviewing it, including how best to support people before they receive their first payment."
The ongoing review signals a potential shift, but campaigners and affected claimants are clear that the five-week rule remains a pivotal barrier to financial stability for those relying on the welfare system during times of need.
