To ask the Minister for Communities what steps he is taking to ensure people making a claim for Universal Credit receive their full entitlement ahead of the benefit uprating in April.

The next annual uprating of benefit will occur on 8 April 2024 and new rates of the various Universal Credit entitlements will be automatically applied by the UC computer system to monthly assessment periods that commence on or after this date.

My Department is confident that all new eligible claims to Universal Credit with a monthly assessment period that ends in advance of 8 April 2024 will be paid in full and on time. Thereby ensuring they will automatically receive the financial benefit of uprating on or after 8 April 2024.