A/HRC/41/39/Add.3 Universal Credit 19. UC replaces six outdated and complex ‘legacy’ benefits with one monthly payment that incentivises work. Since the 2016 Autumn Statement, we have invested an additional £1.6bn annually in improvements to UC, which will be £2bn a year more generous than the previous system. Universal Credit is designed to be accessible to all; for those for whom online engagement is not appropriate, alternatives are available. 20. We have no plan to change the UC assessment period. The assessment period and payment structure mirrors the world of work. Currently around 70% of tax credit claimants are paid monthly or four weekly. 21. UC payment cannot be awarded as soon as a claim is made, as the assessment period must finish before the award is calculated. Assessment periods allow for UC awards to be adjusted monthly, so if a claimant’s income falls, they do not have to wait several months for their award to increase. 22. Payment timeliness has improved, with around 85% of new claims paid in full and on time. Any partial payment will be because verification is still needed. (e.g. of housing costs or self-employed earnings) 23. Advance payments are available to all who need support until the first payment of UC is made, and can be paid the day it’s requested. The repayment time is 12 months, and will be extended to 16 months from October 2021. . Work coaches and claimants work together to ensure that repayments are affordable and manageable. 24. Alternative Payment Arrangements can be considered at any point during the UC claim, including direct payment of rent to private landlords, more frequent payments, and split household payments. As announced in January 2019, we are testing how we can improve more frequent payments for new claimants. 25. Universal Credit is transformational, in that it enables us to support people already in work to improve their earnings. In September 2018, we published findings from our large-scale In-Work Progression Randomised Controlled Trial (RCT) on gov.uk. This covered an early cohort of 30,709 working UC claimants and tested different frequencies of work coach support and mandatory activity agreed between work coach and claimant. 26. Building on the RCT, we’re working to further improve the evidence about what works best to support people to progress. We are developing a programme of activity, to include research, analysis, and trials; and working across Government to develop a more strategic, joined up approach. We are committed to helping parents into work and recognise that childcare costs can affect parents’ choices. Under Universal Credit, working families can claim back up to 85% of their childcare costs each month, and can claim up to a month before starting a job. For families with two children this could be worth up to £13,000 a year. Work Coach Training, Conditionality and Sanctions 27. Work Coaches receive comprehensive training to ensure they deliver tailored support. Under UC Full Service, all Work Coaches undertake mental health training and DWP introduced the externally recognised UC Work Coach accreditation. 28. Awareness training on the identification of claimants with complex needs is ongoing. A ‘hub’ of information which focuses on claimants with complex needs including victims of domestic violence is available to all staff, with a named single point of contact at each site. 29. By summer 2019, we will have implemented domestic abuse specialists in every Jobcentre to further raise awareness of domestic abuse, and support work coaches. 30. From Summer 2019, DWP will run a Proof of Concept (PoC) for a general policy that conditionality will not be imposed on claimants before their Work Capability Assessment, and those assessed as having Limited Capability for Work. Work Coaches will consider each case to decide whether to follow the general policy, or impose relevant workrelated requirements. 4