In a report released by the Women and Equalities Committee on February 9, it was detailed that while these increases have been broadly welcomed, they raised concerns about the overall generosity of the welfare system. The Committee argued the pandemic exacerbated perceived weakness in the Universal Credit system, with an example being the requirement for a five-week wait for initial payments, single household payment problems and joint household assessments and incentives. When an initial claim for Universal Credit is put through, some claimants may have to wait at least five weeks before receiving their first payment and the Committee warned: "We heard that the five-week wait can cause particular difficulties for women in abusive relationships, especially during the pandemic, as other opportunities for support have been restricted.