To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to expand Universal Credit accessibility for those who are ineligible due to (1) their partner's earnings, (2) savings, or (3) migration status.
Answered on
10 June 2021
Universal Credit is a means-tested system of welfare support. Where claimants have income available to meet their household's everyday living costs, such as through a partner's earnings or savings, their entitlement to Universal Credit is adjusted accordingly, we have no plans to change this.
While we keep the Universal Credit capital limit, and those which apply to other means tested benefits
under review, we have no plans to change them. In doing so the Government has to strike a balance between the value of increasing the capital limit and focussing resources on other priority areas such as helping people to return to work.
Non-UK nationals and family members who are issued with a residence permit with a No Recourse to Public Funds (NRPF) condition are not eligible to access taxpayer-funded benefits, including Universal Credit, for the duration of their leave. Public funds do not include contributions-based benefits and the State Pension. The Department has no powers to award taxpayer-funded benefits to an individual whose Home Office immigration status specifies no recourse to public funds.