August 2018 – Universal Credit and Domestic Abuse

As a result, the Committee recommends:

 

The government engages quickly and positively seizing the opportunity to pilot different ways of splitting payments and to reach an evidence-based conclusion on whether there is a case for splitting payments

 

Pending the outcome of split payments, where claimants have dependent children, the entire universal credit payment should be made to the main carer by default or, where split payment requests are permitted, the higher proportion of the split payment should remain with the main carer other than in exceptional circumstances

 

The DWP must ensure it has every safeguard in place to protect vulnerable claimants, starting with a private room in every Jobcentre without delay, and privacy changes to the online journal and

 

Every Jobcentre should be required to appoint a domestic abuse specialist.

 

Chair of the Committee Frank Field stated that men and women work independently, pay taxes as individuals, and should each have an independent income. Not only does universal credits single household payment bear no relation to the world of work, it is out of step with modern life and turns back the clock on decades of hard won equality for women.

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