Response to Universal Credit recommendations

Our Director of Policy Gemma Hope said:

“We welcome the committee’s recommendations to eradicate the five week wait for people transitioning from legacy benefits.

"We also feel the proposed starter payments will go some way in alleviating the financial hardship many people face while waiting for their first Universal Credit payment. However, Leonard Cheshire still believes the five week wait should be stopped for disabled people.

“Although we agree with the committee that for reasons of transparency advanced payments should be re-branded as loans, the experiences of the disabled people we support through our programmes shows that advanced payments are financially devastating. They should be issued as grants not loans, particularly during the pandemic.”

Media enquiries

For further information, interview requests and case studies, please contact Jonathan Sim on jonathan.sim@leonardcheshire.org.