As many as 42 per cent of potential claimants of universal credit say switching to a system of monthly payments will make life harder, according to a new Department for Work and Pensions study.

The quantitative study looked at the views and attitudes of over 4,000 people currently receiving working-age benefits and tax credits.

Key points

• Most respondents said they would be comfortable moving to a single, household payment.
• The concept of a monthly payment caused more concern: 42 per cent said monthly payments would make it harder for them to budget, compared with 10 per cent who said it would make it easier.
• The overwhelming concern was running out of money before the end of the month.
• Most people said they would be willing to claim a benefit or tax credit online. But almost half would need help or support to do so.

Source: Trinh Tu and Steven Ginnis, Work and the Welfare System: A Survey of Benefits and Tax Credits Recipients, Research Report 800, Department for Work and Pensions
Links: Report | Technical note | Summary