RIGHT TO RECEIVE WEEKLY PAYMENTS OF BENEFITS OR WAGES

That this House recognises that many people on low incomes, or in receipt of benefits, often have financial difficulties in spreading their income over a whole month, and are forced to use credit card companies or pay day lenders at very high rates of interest; expresses concern at the large number of people who end up needing to use food banks or payday lenders because they do not receive sufficient income to cover their essential costs; believes that all work should pay the real Living Wage and provide enough income to live with security and dignity; further believes that benefits paid to people who are looking for work or too ill to work should also provide sufficient income to live with dignity and without being in poverty, or needing to rely on food aid; further notes that monthly payment of benefits may be difficult for some recipients, who would find it easier to manage their finances if they could be paid weekly or fortnightly; notes that having the option to be paid at shorter timescales can be useful to people on low incomes; calls on the Department for Work and Pensions to automatically agree to every request to have benefits paid weekly or fortnightly, rather than monthly, and to make it clear to all recipients of universal credit that they have the right to request this; and calls for employers, particularly of staff on low incomes, to give their employees the option of being paid weekly, fortnightly or monthly.