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984751

registered interest
date	10/10/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of research by the Trussell Trust which found a 52 per cent increase in food bank usage in areas where universal credit has been implemented for 12 months or more.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	177769
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2018 answer text <p>We work closely with The Trussell Trust and welcome their feedback. It is worth noting that much of their analysis was carried out before the improvements we announced at Autumn Budget 2017, and which were introduced earlier this year. The comprehensive and wide-ranging package worth £1.5 billion to help people in their first assessment period included, the abolition of waiting days, the introduction of advances up to 100% of a claimant’s indicative award (repayable over a period of up to 12 months), and a two week transitional payment for those previously claiming Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>The Trussell Trust welcomed our changes in the Budget saying they would “ease the pressure on thousands of households on very low incomes” and “shows that Government is listening”.</p><p> </p><p>Earlier this month, we announced a new partnership with Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland to deliver Universal Support. We want to make sure that the most vulnerable people get the best possible support when claiming Universal Credit. Citizens Advice will help deliver a high-quality and consistent service to people claiming Universal Credit, to assist them manage their claim, get paid on time and budget effectively. This was welcomed by the Trussell Trust.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 178250 question first answered 16/10/2018 16:34:39 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

984752

registered interest
date	10/10/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of new universal credit claimants have had to wait longer than five weeks for initial payment in each month since January 2018.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	177770
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2018 answer text <p>The proportion of Universal Credit new claimants who waited more than five weeks from their payment due date for their initial Universal Credit payment is in the table below.</p><p> </p><p>In many cases where full payment is not made on time, it is due to unresolved issues such as: claimants not accepting their Claimant Commitment or passing identity checks, or having outstanding verification issues, such as housing costs and self-employed earnings.</p><p> </p><p>We have taken steps to improve verification processes. For example, we have listened to feedback and built processes into the system to make it easier and quicker for people to verify their housing costs, for example through the landlord portal.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Payment due date</p></td><td><p>Waited more than 5 weeks beyond the payment due date for initial<strong>*</strong> payment</p></td><td><p>Waited more than 5 weeks beyond the payment due date for payment in full</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-18</p></td><td><p>1%</p></td><td><p>7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-18</p></td><td><p>1%</p></td><td><p>6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-18</p></td><td><p>2%</p></td><td><p>7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-18</p></td><td><p>2%</p></td><td><p>7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-18</p></td><td><p>2%</p></td><td><p>7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-18</p></td><td><p>1%</p></td><td><p>5%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p> </p><p>These results can change retrospectively as further information is received and is from our internal management data.</p><p> </p><p><strong>*</strong>Initial % of paid claims that received some payment</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 26/10/2018 14:51:46 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

984753

registered interest
date	10/10/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that under managed migration welfare claimants do not miss the application deadline for their new benefit before losing their legacy benefits; and what (a) protections and (b) support she plans to put in place for those who do miss that deadline.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	177771
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2018 answer text <p>The regulation to enact managed migration will come before Parliament this autumn and are subject to parliamentary approval. We will only begin migrating people onto Universal Credit at volume after a careful and robust period of testing, with up to 10,000 being migrated in the test phase. We take seriously the need to support vulnerable claimants moving to Universal Credit; we will work with stakeholders and organisations to understand the best way to support all of our customers to move to Universal Credit. Through a safe and gradual start for Managed Migration, we will be able to determine the best way to support everyone to successfully move to Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>In our high-level design for managed migration, there is a comprehensive preparation period for claimants, which will last between four to six months. During this time, claimants will receive initial communications to alert them to the fact their legacy benefits will be ending and that they need to make a claim for Universal Credit. These communications will also outline the additional support available to help them to make their claim.</p><p> </p><p>After this period, claimants will receive a migration notification which sets out the timescale for them to make their Universal Credit claim. The regulations set out a minimum of one month but there is flexibility to extend this period if it is identified that certain claimants, such as those who are vulnerable or have complex needs, require longer timescales to make their Universal Credit claim. There is no limit on the number of times that a claimant may ask to extend their deadline, providing that they have a good reason for doing so. Each request for an extension will be considered on its own merits</p><p>During the notification period, claimants who have not already made a Universal Credit claim by a certain point will also be reminded that they will have to make a Universal Credit claim by their deadline. This contact also makes it possible for agents to gauge whether a claimant is having difficulty in making a Universal Credit claim and take action if needed by extending the deadline for the Universal Credit claim to be made or arranging appropriate support to help the claimant complete the migration process.</p><p>In the event that a claimant fails to make a Universal Credit claim before their deadline, an agent will check for evidence of complex needs or vulnerability before the existing benefits are stopped, to ensure that these claimants are safeguarded.</p><p> </p><p>Anyone who fails to claim by their given deadline, but does so within a month after that deadline, will have their claim backdated and be considered for Transitional Protection if they meet the prescribed criteria.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 25/10/2018 09:04:19 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

984761

registered interest
date	10/10/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has in place to avoid unnecessary repeat assessments for benefit applicants with special needs.
tabling member constituency	Lincoln
tabling member printed	Karen Lee
uin	177817
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2018 answer text <p>Since September 2017, Employment and Support Allowance claimants who have the most severe/lifelong conditions and that meet the Severe Conditions Criteria are not required to attend further routine reassessments. Furthermore, in August 2018, we introduced updated guidance for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) case managers which will ensure that those who receive the highest level of support under PIP, and whose needs are unlikely to change or may get worse, will now receive an ongoing award with a light touch review at the ten year point.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 19/10/2018 12:44:01 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4664 label Biography information for Karen Lee

984762

registered interest
date	10/10/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Employment: Young People
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of youth employment since 2010.
tabling member constituency	Clacton
tabling member printed	Giles Watling
uin	177823
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/10/2018 answer text <p>The youth labour market is performing well, according to data recently released by the independent Office for National Statistics.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The number of 16-24 years olds in employment level is currently 3.833 million (June-August 2018), this is an increase of 120,000 since 2010.</p><p> </p><p>The youth unemployment is currently at a new record low of 10.8% - with the number of young people who are unemployed down by over 50% since 2010.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 19/10/2018 08:49:26 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4677 label Biography information for Giles Watling

984765

registered interest
date	10/10/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Support for Mortgage Interest
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of occasions the time taken to authorise payment following an application for a Support for Mortgage Interest loan has exceeded her Departmental expectation of two weeks.
tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
uin	177818
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2018 answer text <p>Where a claimant expresses an interest in taking up the offer of an SMI loan they will be sent a loan agreement and charge form to complete and return. They also receive detailed guidance on how to complete these documents.</p><p> </p><p>The Department determines that 6 weeks is a sufficient time period for claimants to make a decision whether to take up the offer of an SMI loan. The Department ask that the loan agreement and charge form are returned as soon reasonably possible to enable them to be processed efficiently. A reminder is sent out after six weeks if the documents have not been received. Claimants may change their mind whether to take or decline a loan at any time.</p><p> </p><p>Returned forms are checked for accuracy, and if correctly completed we would expect that, in the majority of cases, SMI Loan payments would be authorised within two weeks but this is dependent upon claimants benefit pay cycle.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not hold the data requested regarding how often payments are authorised within two weeks.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 15/10/2018 13:52:59 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

984775

registered interest
date	10/10/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	State Retirement Pensions: Females
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the criteria are for determining which WASPI cases submitted to the Independent Case Examiner are referred to the Parliamentary Ombudsman; and who makes the final decision on which cases are referred.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh East
tabling member printed	Tommy Sheppard
uin	177760
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2018 answer text <p>The Independent Case Examiner is independent. All final investigation reports issued by the Independent Case Examiner explain that if the complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome of the investigation into their complaint, they can ask their Member of Parliament to escalate the matter to the Parliamentary Ombudsman. Decisions on whether a referral is made to the Parliamentary Ombudsman rest with the relevant Member of Parliament.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 15/10/2018 16:51:04 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4453 label Biography information for Tommy Sheppard

984776

registered interest
date	10/10/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	State Retirement Pensions: Females
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases relating to her Department have been considered by the (a) Independent Case Examiner and (b) Parliamentary Ombudsman in each month since January 2017.
tabling member constituency	Edinburgh East
tabling member printed	Tommy Sheppard
uin	177761
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2018 answer text <p>The table below details the number of complaint examinations concluded by the Independent Case Examiner’s Office in relation to the Department for Work and Pensions and its service providers, in each month since January 2017.</p><p> </p><p>The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has agreed to write to the Hon. Member with the information requested.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Month</p></td><td><p>Complaint Examinations Concluded by Independent Case Examiner’s Office</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>January 2017</p></td><td><p>73</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>February 2017</p></td><td><p>71</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2017</p></td><td><p>115</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>April 2017</p></td><td><p>57</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May 2017</p></td><td><p>84</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>June 2017</p></td><td><p>85</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>July 2017</p></td><td><p>83</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>August 2017</p></td><td><p>69</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>September 2017</p></td><td><p>71</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>October 2017</p></td><td><p>81</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>November 2017</p></td><td><p>76</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>December 2017</p></td><td><p>65</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>January 2018</p></td><td><p>85</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>February 2018</p></td><td><p>82</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2018</p></td><td><p>83</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>April 2018</p></td><td><p>74</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May 2018</p></td><td><p>87</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>June 2018</p></td><td><p>108</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>July 2018</p></td><td><p>91</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>August 2018</p></td><td><p>104</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>September 2018</p></td><td><p>91</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 15/10/2018 16:51:53 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4453 label Biography information for Tommy Sheppard

984782

registered interest
date	10/10/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Widowed Parent's Allowance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department plans to publish its response to the Supreme Court's ruling on Widowed Parent's Allowance; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Bridgend
tabling member printed	Mrs Madeleine Moon
uin	177637
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2018 answer text <p>We are considering the court’s ruling carefully and will update Parliament in due course.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 18/10/2018 13:14:43 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	1490 label Biography information for Mrs Madeleine Moon

984823

registered interest
date	10/10/2018
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Parental Pay: Self-employed
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the (a) financial and (b) psychological effect on self-employed people of being unable to access statutory maternity and paternity leave pay.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	177643
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/10/2018 answer text <p>The Department has not conducted any analysis of the psychological or financial impacts on self-employed people who are ineligible for statutory family related leave and pay entitlements.</p><p> </p><p>Maternity Allowance (MA) is paid to eligible self-employed and employed women who are not entitled to Statutory Maternity Pay. Statutory family related leave entitlements focus on employees as they have less flexibility and autonomy over the work they do and when they take time off work.</p><p> </p><p>The Government agrees with the principle of equalising parental benefits for the employed and self-employed. But as set out in the Government Response to the Taylor Review of Modern Working Practices, it is right to only consider making changes to this area once we have carefully considered this in the wider context of tax, benefits and rights over the longer term.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 15/10/2018 14:00:20 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley