Struggling farmers unable to qualify for Universal Credit, Tim Farron tells minister

4 Feb 2025
Tim listening to a local farmer

On the floor of the House of Commons yesterday, Cumbrian MP Tim Farron challenged ministers in the Department for Work and Pensions tourgently review the rules which are hampering farmers being able to access Universal Credit.

Universal Credit is calculated based on monthly income and expenses. However this does not account for the fact that farmers’ incomes can fluctuate widely depending on the season, and there will be a number of months where expenses will be incurred but there will be virtually no income until grain or stock is sold.

To make matters worse, for self-employed people wanting to claim Universal Credit there is a ‘Minimum Income Floor’ which means that they have to prove they are earning the national minimum wage every month.

As a result, this means in some months farmers may not qualify for a payment.

Speaking during Work and Pension Questions in Parliament, Tim said: “Hundreds of farmers and other small business owners in Westmorland who earn less than the minimum wage are not eligible for Universal Credit because of the failure of that system to take account of variability of income. 

“Will the Minister look to put that right so that we can support the people who support us?”

Responding, the Minister for Social Security and Disability, Sir Stephen Timms said: “We are committed in our manifesto to a review of Universal Credit and I expect to set out shortly the details of how that review will go forward. 

“I will be very happy to look at the particular case the honourable gentleman raises in the course of the review.”

 

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