Official Statistics

Universal Credit and Severe Disability Premium claims

Published 2 September 2019

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/universal-credit-and-severe-disability-premium-claims/universal-credit-and-severe-disability-premium-claims

Introduction

A gateway was introduced from 16 January 2019 to prevent those claimants entitled to the Severe Disability Premium (SDP) as part of their legacy benefit from claiming Universal Credit. Additionally, a commitment was made for monthly transitional payments to be made to eligible former SDP claimants who have already moved to Universal Credit due to a change in circumstances and to provide a lump sum arrears payment, where appropriate.

The SDP gateway will be removed in January 2021 with SDP claimants who experience a change in circumstances being eligible to claim Universal Credit after that date. The government has reviewed the level of transitional payments and increased the monthly amounts to:

  • £120
  • £285
  • £405

The applicable rate is dependent on whether a claim covers a single person or a couple, and whether it is in the limited capability for work and work-related activity group. Payments will be made to those who had already moved to Universal Credit pre-gateway or who will move over due to a change in circumstances after its removal in 2021.

Following the Universal Credit (Managed Migration Pilot and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019, laid before Parliament on 22 July, the department has commenced lump sum and recurring payments to eligible claimants.

Supporting former SDP recipients

  • 6,315 claims have been paid
  • average* lump sum payment is £2,160
  • £16,358,370 has been paid to date

*Average is the median payment disbursed

This data includes payments made up to 29 August 2019.

Who we are supporting

  • 37% of claims are in the limited capability for work group (LCW)
  • 63% of claims are in the limited capability for work and work-related activity group (LCWRA)
Pie chart showing 37% of claims are in the limited capability for work group and 63% of claims are in the limited capability for work and work-related activity group

About these statistics

The figures presented in this release are from the department’s administrative records. The department has been making payments since 24 July 2019 in line with the Universal Credit (Managed Migration Pilot and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019; records are kept of the number of payments made as well as the specific value of each payment.

Data captured concerns both the lump sum payments covering the period from when an SDP claimant initiated a Universal Credit claim to when they were assessed, and the recurring payments provided for under the Regulations. Each lump sum entitlement was disbursed in one transaction.

The department captures whether a payment is made to a Universal Credit claim in the limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work-related activity groups.

Statement of compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics

The Code of Practice for Statistics (the Code) is built around 3 main concepts, or pillars:

  • trustworthiness – is about having confidence in the people and organisations that publish statistics
  • quality – is about using data and methods that produce statistics
  • value – is about publishing statistics that support society’s needs

The following explains how we have applied the pillars of the Code in a proportionate way.

Trustworthiness

The figures were created following interest from Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ministers and the Members of Parliament. They are being published now in order to give equal access to all those with an interest in them.

Quality

The data which underpins this information is taken directly and solely from departmental systems, which includes DWP’s records for payment of Universal Credit. Quality assurance has taken place in line with the standards usually applied to DWP ad hoc releases, with an internal check that the results shown are robust, and a true representation of payments made to cases formerly in receipt of the SDP.

Value

Releasing this information serves the increased public interest in the payments the department has made to former recipients of the SDP. The figures add to the wider stock of information on those who are claiming Universal Credit, having formerly been in receipt of the SDP. The figures also help reduce the administrative burden of answering parliamentary questions, Freedom of Information requests and other forms of ad hoc enquiry.

Further information and feedback

Lead Statistician: Graeme Connor
Analyst: Niamh Fahey

Contact DWP Press Office by phone on 0203 267 5129 if you have any questions or feedback.

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