@julia-rt.bsky.social
Welfare policy research @citizensadvice.bsky.social
All views my own
All views my own
Read more about why and how the budget needs to finally call time on the 5 week wait in our new blog⏱️ 👇
No more waiting on the 5 week wait
This autumn, the government has the chance to take action on one of Universal Credit’s longest-standing problems: “the 5 week wait”.
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk
October 15, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Read more about why and how the budget needs to finally call time on the 5 week wait in our new blog⏱️ 👇
Through our frontline services, we see the 5 week wait lead to hardship all the time.
For Alara*, UC deductions made it difficult to provide for her daughter + were a barrier to work.
Like Alara*, 69% of those we helped w/ deductions caused by the 5WW this year also needed a foodbank referral.
For Alara*, UC deductions made it difficult to provide for her daughter + were a barrier to work.
Like Alara*, 69% of those we helped w/ deductions caused by the 5WW this year also needed a foodbank referral.
October 15, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Through our frontline services, we see the 5 week wait lead to hardship all the time.
For Alara*, UC deductions made it difficult to provide for her daughter + were a barrier to work.
Like Alara*, 69% of those we helped w/ deductions caused by the 5WW this year also needed a foodbank referral.
For Alara*, UC deductions made it difficult to provide for her daughter + were a barrier to work.
Like Alara*, 69% of those we helped w/ deductions caused by the 5WW this year also needed a foodbank referral.
The 5 week wait is a fundamental problem w/ UC, catching many between a rock + a hard place:
• Either struggling to afford essentials waiting for the 1st payment
• Or taking out a DWP loan to make ends meet, leaving households w/ even less UC income as the loan's repaid through monthly deductions
• Either struggling to afford essentials waiting for the 1st payment
• Or taking out a DWP loan to make ends meet, leaving households w/ even less UC income as the loan's repaid through monthly deductions
October 15, 2025 at 10:11 AM
The 5 week wait is a fundamental problem w/ UC, catching many between a rock + a hard place:
• Either struggling to afford essentials waiting for the 1st payment
• Or taking out a DWP loan to make ends meet, leaving households w/ even less UC income as the loan's repaid through monthly deductions
• Either struggling to afford essentials waiting for the 1st payment
• Or taking out a DWP loan to make ends meet, leaving households w/ even less UC income as the loan's repaid through monthly deductions