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1551900

registered interest
date	14/12/2022
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
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of the current levels of benefits given the increased cost of living.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Durham
uin	HL4282
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2022 answer text <p>The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and has taken further decisive action to support people with their energy bills. The government’s Energy Price Guarantee, running from October 2022- March 2023, will save a typical British household around £900 this winter, based on what energy price would have been under the current price cap – reducing bills by roughly a third. This is in addition to the over £37bn of cost-of-living support announced earlier this year which includes the £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>From 10 April 2023 we are uprating State Pension and benefit rates by 10.1%. In order to increase the number of households who can benefit from these uprating decisions the benefit cap will also be increased by 10.1%. These increases are subject to Parliamentary approval.</p><p /><p>To ensure stability and certainty for households, the government is providing £26bn in cost-of-living support for 2023/24. This includes Cost of Living Payments for the most vulnerable. In 2023/24, households on eligible means-tested benefits will get up to a further £900 in Cost-of-Living Payments. A £300 payment will be made to pensioner households and individuals in receipt of eligible disability benefits will receive a £150 payment. Also included is the amended Energy Price Guarantee which will save the average UK household £500 in 2023-24.</p><p> </p><p>For those who require extra support, the Government is providing an additional £1 billion of funding, including Barnett impact, to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England in the next financial year. This is on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing total funding to £2.5 billion. In England this will be delivered through an extension to the Household Support Fund backed by £842 million, running from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, which local authorities use to help households with the cost of essentials. It will be for the devolved administrations to decide how to allocate their additional Barnett funding.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 21/12/2022 11:22:13 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	4312 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Durham

1545535

registered interest
date	24/11/2022
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
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made with the roll-out of changes to social security benefits.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL3779
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2022 answer text <p>Movement of legacy benefit recipients to Universal Credit (UC) started in May 2022, with the first 500 notices taking place in Bolton and Medway. Since then, the Discovery Phase of Move to UC issued over 1500 Migration Notices across 5 geographical areas including Truro &amp; Falmouth, Harrow, Northumberland, and Cornwall.</p><p> </p><p>By the end of 2024 we estimate nearly 90% of households claiming working age means tested benefits will be on UC.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 08/12/2022 14:44:00 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1543812

registered interest
date	21/11/2022
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
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how much the threshold for (1) income support, (2) income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, (3) income-related Employment and Support Allowance, (4) housing benefit, (5) child tax credits, and (6) pension credits, has increased (a) in line with inflation, and (b) in monetary terms, each year since 1997.
tabling member printed	Baroness Altmann
uin	HL3573
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2022 answer text <p>For the benefits listed there are many different rates. The tables in the spreadsheet attached show a selection of illustrative examples for each benefit in both cash and real terms.</p><p> </p><p>Child Tax Credits are administered by HMRC and are not a DWP responsibility. Rates are therefore not provided here.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 05/12/2022 17:55:29 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott attachment 1 file name Benefit Rate Tables 1997-2021.xlsx title HL3573 attachment
tabling member	4533 label Biography information for Baroness Altmann

1536993

registered interest
date	27/10/2022
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
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the total saving to His Majesty's Treasury through (1) housing benefit subsidy, and (2) Universal Credit, of imposing a social housing rent cap at less than the usual level of Consumer Price Index plus one per cent.
tabling member printed	Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
uin	HL2947
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/11/2022 answer text <p>The Government recently consulted on whether to make a temporary amendment to the CPI+1% cap on annual social housing rent increases. The consultation closed on 12 October and the government is carefully considering the responses.</p><p> </p><p>Any decision to change the CPI+1% cap would subsequently be reflected in the fiscal forecasts (including of Universal Credit and Housing Benefit expenditure) that are published by the Office for Budget Responsibility, and the more detailed breakdowns of these expenditure forecasts that are published by DWP.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 02/11/2022 17:15:36 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	4719 label Biography information for Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle

1504850

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
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
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what would be the level of the benefit cap, set in 2016, if it had kept pace with (1) inflation, (2) average earnings, and (3) Universal Credit rates.
tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
uin	HL2138
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2022 answer text <p>There is a statutory duty to review the levels of the cap at least once in every five years and this will happen at the appropriate time. The current unusual economic period with potentially counter intuitive and shifting trends will need to be considered in the context of any decision regarding a review.</p><p> </p><p>The benefit cap provides a strong work incentive and fairness for hard-working taxpaying households and encourages people to move into work, where possible. The Government firmly believes that where possible it is in the best interests of children to be in working households and the benefit cap provides a clear incentive to move into work.</p><p> </p><p>The table below shows the weekly benefit cap level if it had kept pace with (1) inflation and (2) average earnings. To provide the levels of the benefit cap had it kept pace with Universal Credit rates is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate costs.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Inflation</p></td><td><p>Average earnings</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London couples/lone parents</p></td><td><p>£496.51</p></td><td><p>£529.06</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London single adult</p></td><td><p>£332.67</p></td><td><p>£354.47</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Excluding London couples/lone parents</p></td><td><p>£431.75</p></td><td><p>£460.05</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Excluding London single adult</p></td><td><p>£289.27</p></td><td><p>£308.23</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The earnings and inflation measure used for uprating DWP benefits have been used.</p><p> </p><p>Inflation and earnings source: House of Commons, Benefit Uprating 2022/23, Table 5 (February 2022).</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 21/09/2022 14:26:13 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1464825

registered interest
date	23/05/2022
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
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to introduce a quarterly welfare assessment for those in receipt of benefits.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL455
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/06/2022 answer text <p>There are no plans to introduce a quarterly welfare assessment for those in receipt of benefits.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 07/06/2022 15:49:31 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick

1456691

registered interest
date	31/03/2022
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
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the current level of benefits is sufficient to meet the rising costs of living.
tabling member printed	Lord Roberts of Llandudno
uin	HL7582
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/04/2022 answer text <p>The Secretary of State undertakes an annual review of benefits and pensions using the Consumer Prices Index in the year to September. This is the latest figure that the Secretary of State can use to allow sufficient time for the required legislative and operational changes before new rates can be introduced at the start of the following April. All benefit up-rating since April 1987 has been based on the increase in the relevant price inflation index in the 12 months to the previous September.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living. These are global challenges, and the government has taken action to support families with help worth over £22 billion in 2022-23.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The £22bn of extra support includes the £9.1bn energy package, the Universal Credit taper rate reduction from 63% to 55%, the increase in the Universal Credit work allowance by £500 per annum and the doubling of the Household Support Fund to £1bn by providing an extra £500 million from April 2022, on top of the £500 million already provided since October 2021.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 11/04/2022 15:33:15 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	3691 label Biography information for Lord Roberts of Llandudno

1404178

registered interest
date	18/01/2022
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
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Internal Process Reviews conducted by the Department of Work and Pensions relate to cases that have also been subject to Safeguarding Adults Reviews.
tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
uin	HL5494
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2022 answer text <p>From September 2020 to present (January 2022) the Department has conducted</p><p>10 Internal Process Reviews for cases in which we are aware that a Safeguarding Adults Review has also been undertaken.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 01/02/2022 16:44:55 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1403731

registered interest
date	17/01/2022
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
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effect of introducing senior safeguarding leaders within the Department for Work and Pensions.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Durham
uin	HL5430
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2022 answer text <p>Since 2020, the Department has appointed more than 30 Advanced Customer Support Senior Leaders (ACSSLs) across Great Britain; these roles were previously known as Senior Safeguarding Leaders.</p><p> </p><p>ACSSLs support internal teams with customers who have multiple needs. They are a critical link into external agencies’ escalation routes, enabling increased cross-agency case collaboration and more holistic support for customers. From a standing start in April 2020, ACSSLs now maintain around 750 relationships* with external organisations and agencies that provide support to vulnerable claimants.</p><p> </p><p>As their role has been established and developed over the last 20 months, ACSSLs have built the capability and confidence of frontline teams - coaching them in using existing tools for the most complex cases and supporting them in applying new guidance. Through the ACSSLs, the Department has gained greater visibility with local partners - so we can work collaboratively for a customer when this is required. ACSSLs have also helped us gather data and insight into customers’ top areas of concern, helping us to deliver a better service for all claimants.</p><p> </p><p>During 2021 we continually assessed the effect of introducing this role, how areas of concern about customers are identified, and the effectiveness of internal Service Line escalation routes.</p><p>Our findings so far demonstrate that ACSSLs are effective in supporting existing DWP Service Lines to assist customers most at risk of harm. It is also evident that clear Service Line escalation routes are needed to provide timely resolution for our most vulnerable customers, which in turn reduces the need for ACSSL intervention.</p><p> </p><p>Following this work, ACSSLs’ future focus will include their coaching &amp; facilitator role, their work with external agencies, and strengthening the learning they return to the business in real time.</p><p> </p><p><em>*Please note: the data used here is taken from internal management information (MI) and is not in the public domain</em>.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 01/02/2022 16:58:33 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	4312 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Durham

1400131

registered interest
date	05/01/2022
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
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the answer by Baroness Scott of Bybrook on 30 November (HL Deb, col 1265), what new solutions to support citizens who use its services the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is exploring; whether the DWP is running any proof of concepts on digital payments; what “alternative technologies” they are considering; and what plans they have to reconsider distributed ledger technology solutions.
tabling member printed	Lord Holmes of Richmond
uin	HL5121
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/01/2022 answer text <p>DWP is committed to harnessing the potential of new technologies in making a positive difference to our customers’ lives.</p><p> </p><p>The department is currently undertaking a modernisation programme of work which does also include reimagining the future of payments, exploring using disruptive and alternative technologies to challenge traditional thinking and processes.</p><p> </p><p>DWP has previously undertaken proof of concept using disruptive technologies such as Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technology to challenge and change how we manage and distribute money, drive more resilience and security. In this proof of concept, DWP examined how blockchain technologies could be used to issue welfare payments to our banking partners on a near real-time basis, helping reduce 3rd party dependencies. During this initial internal proof of concept, no claimants were involved and the work was used to inform the decision to develop a future method of payment strategy that outlines DWP’s commitment to improving the methods available to make payments to customers.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to explore payment innovations, including distributed ledger and blockchain technologies and their potential to securely deliver services that our customers rely on.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 19/01/2022 14:55:33 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	4294 label Biography information for Lord Holmes of Richmond