Dear Department for Work and Pensions,

I am seeking published guidance pertaining to the circumstances in which a universal credit claimant can voluntarily and permanently close a universal credit claim, rather than leave a current claim 'dormant'.

Under such circumstances, please provide all published guidance pertaining to the amount of time which would need to elapse before a new claim could be made. For the purpose of claimants who are in the position of being offered the opportunity to become employed earners with an income within the 'surplus earnings' category for a limited period of time (fewer than 6 months), it is clear that their entitlement to universal credit payments would correctly end during that period. My question is: can the claim be voluntarily ended by the claimant once they start work? What would be the effect upon any new claim made before 6 months (from the start of work paying surplus earnings) had elapsed?

Yours faithfully,

Florence Elizabeth Constance Daisley