ERSA statement on Work and Pensions Select Committee report on Universal Credit and Self-Employment

Today, the Work and Pensions Select Committee published its report on Universal Credit and self-employment. ERSA provided oral and written evidence to the committee on behalf of its members, with all of its key recommendations adopted in today’s report, including reducing the impact of the Minimum Income Floor and ensuring access to specialist employment support.

ERSA’s Head of Policy, Sam Windett, says:

‘ERSA warmly welcomes today’s Work and Pensions Select Committee’s report on Universal Credit (UC) and self-employment. Starting a business is a viable route out of unemployment for some jobseekers and the government must ensure they have the support they need to get off the ground. 

However, punitive measures within UC, such as the Minimum Income Floor, are a hammer blow to those starting their own business. The cliff edge in support means many fledgling companies simply will not survive. The report shows clear evidence that the government must act upon to reform Universal Credit for the self-employed before it’s too late for too many people .’