Universal Credit: Debt Collection
Commons · Question 118296 · Tabled 5 Mar 2026 · Department for Work and Pensions · Official record
Answered 12 Mar 2026
Question
Asked by Andrew Snowden
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department cross-checks identity information with (a) HM Revenue and Customs and (b) other government databases before initiating debt recovery action relating to Universal Credit.
Answer
Answered by Andrew Western, 12 Mar 2026
This department is committed to fairness in debt recovery and will always work with people to ensure that any recovery activity does not cause hardship or is unfairly detrimental. Identity checks are undertaken by DWP at the point a customer makes a benef...