Petition · past parliament · Department for Work and Pensions

Pay Universal Credit from Day One

Closed 121 signatures

What the petition asks

The Government MUST scrap the 5 week waiting period for Universal Credit to enable people to pay living costs during the coronavirus crisis. People eligible for benefits should be paid from the day they apply.
Many people in insecure, casual work or workers that are self employed will potentially be losing some or all of their income over the coming weeks, meaning they will have to rely on the welfare system as an essential safety net to get them through the more severe phases of the Government's strategy.

Through no fault of their own, workers are being made worse off as a result of this pandemic. The Government must step in and grant Universal Credit from day one.

Timeline

8 Apr 2020 Petition opened for signatures
8 Oct 2020 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 121
Status Closed
Department Department for Work and Pensions
Opened 8 Apr 2020
Closed 8 Oct 2020

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.