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1144599

registered interest
date	04/09/2019
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	Personal Income
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what comparative assessment she has made of the change in the level of household income with two people in employment in 2019 and 2009.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	286750
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Estimates for the net median equivalised weekly household income after housing costs of UK couples in employment where both are in work are presented below, for 2009/10 and 2017/2018 in both nominal and real terms (2017/18 prices).</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2009/10</p></td><td><p>2017/18</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nominal terms</p></td><td><p>£560</p></td><td><p>£561</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>CPI-adjusted real terms</p></td><td><p>£470</p></td><td><p>£561</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>These figures have been taken from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) survey tables from Stat-Xplore and are rounded to the nearest pound. Stat-Xplore data is publicly available at the link below:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/tableView/tableView.xhtml" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/tableView/tableView.xhtml#</a></p><p>We do not have available data to 2019 and so have used the most recent data available which is to 2017/18.</p><p>Analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies has shown that the reason there have not been higher increases in average incomes in working households is partly due to increases in employment over this period. They state that “falls in worklessness have brought relatively low-earning types of households (such as lone parents) into work”. A link to the report is available below:</p><p><a href="https://www.ifs.org.uk/uploads/WP201912.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.ifs.org.uk/uploads/WP201912.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 11:00:07 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1144793

registered interest
date	04/09/2019
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, for what reasons her Department has decided that a 30 per cent deduction from a universal credit claimant’s standard allowance prevents those claimants from being exposed to excessive financial hardship.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	286621
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>A claimant’s Universal Credit award will reflect individual circumstances, topping up any earnings or other income that they may have, so Universal Credit may constitute only a proportion of their total income.</p><p> </p><p>Our deductions policy is designed to protect vulnerable claimants by providing a last resort method for arrears of essential services which might otherwise result in those services being cut off, or being evicted from their home. Under Universal Credit there is a structured approach to deductions from benefit, which simplifies the current complex arrangements of the legacy system. This policy also enables social obligations to be enforced when other repayment methods have failed or are not cost effective.</p><p> </p><p>If a claimant is in financial difficulty as a result of the level of deductions being made they can contact the Department to request that a reduction in deductions be considered. Any adjustment to the rate of repayment will be based on the individual circumstances of the claimant. To support this intention, from October 2019 we are reducing the maximum rate of deductions to 30 per cent and from October 2021 we are increasing the maximum recovery period for advances from 12 to 16 months.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 15:54:55 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1144794

registered interest
date	04/09/2019
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, pursuant to the Answer of 20 June 2019 to Question 254731 on Universal Credit, for what reason there is a difference between the number of men and women that have been unable to repay their advance within 12 monthly instalments narrows for those aged 40 years old and over.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	286622
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>The data supplied in answer to Question 254731 used May 2019 figures. This showed that of the 264,500 with an advance repayment more than 12 months old, 83,500 were aged over 40 years old, and 49,500 (59%) of those were male, and 34,000 (41%) were female. We would expect there to be a difference in the advances outstanding over 12 months’ figures, although the gender split in the original table is more pronounced.</p><p> </p><p>We have no evidence to explain this greater gender difference in outstanding advances over 12 months old.</p><p> </p><p>All data used in researching this response has been sourced from internal management information. It offers a snapshot in time and cannot be compared to any other, similar data released by the Department</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 16:07:44 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1144796

registered interest
date	04/09/2019
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 information her Department holds on reductions to deductions for claimants of universal credit in latest period for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	286623
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 13:38:08 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1144797

registered interest
date	04/09/2019
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, how many claimants of universal credit received a (a) budgeting loan and (b) deferral period in the latest period for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	286624
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 16:36:31 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1144811

registered interest
date	04/09/2019
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 his Department has made of the effectiveness of the delivery of data via the Data Hub since the introduction of universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Dunfermline and West Fife
tabling member printed	Douglas Chapman
uin	286784
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>The Data Hub is a secure mechanism for sharing data with local authorities not only for Universal Credit purposes, but for wider data share requirements across central and local Government and has been effective in doing so.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has plans to iterate and enhance the current data shared in the future and are working with local authority colleagues to support this.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 10:54:46 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4402 label Biography information for Douglas Chapman

1144839

registered interest
date	04/09/2019
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 estimate her Department has made of the number of people in rent arrears since the roll-out of universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	286626
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>The Department has not made an assessment of this nature, as any change in rent arrears is not solely attributed to Universal Credit.</p><p>The initial analytical work we have carried out with a single housing provider suggests that many tenants are arriving on Universal Credit with pre-existing rent arrears, supporting research carried out by the National Federation of ALMOs which shows over three quarters of their tenants come onto Universal Credit with pre-existing rent arrears. It also shows that arrears tend to increase prior to making a claim for Universal Credit, and that Universal Credit actually appears to be helping to clear arrears over time. We are currently extending this analysis to include a number of housing providers. It will be published when completed.</p><p>We have responded to concerns in this area by putting a number of safeguards in place – 100 per cent advances repayable over 12 months, increasing to 16 months in October 2021; a two-week transition to Universal Credit Housing Payment; a new Help to Claim service; and Managed Payment to Landlord Arrangements, which allow for payments direct to the landlord if the tenant is likely to have difficulty in managing their rent payments, is unlikely to pay their rent or is in rent arrears equivalent to two months.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 15:57:55 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1144842

registered interest
date	04/09/2019
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 he has made of the adequacy of access by universal credit claimants to organisations providing services to manage money in each area served by a job centre.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	286629
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Jobcentre staff have access to information on services and support available in their local area for claimants and will signpost claimants to national and local organisations who provide specialist debt and money management support.</p><p>In addition, support is available for Universal Credit claimants via the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). MaPS will help UC claimants with personal budgeting and money management through its free helpline, printed guides and digital guidance.</p><p>For those UC claimants who are in most need of debt advice, MaPS will continue to work with the DWP and other agencies to ensure that they are signposted and referred quickly to local provision – MaPS funds free-to-consumer debt advice in England through a network of providers including StepChange, the Money Advice Trust and Citizens Advice.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 13:48:58 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1144292

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
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 recent assessment she has made of the effect of the benefits freeze on the wellbeing of universal credit claimants.
tabling member constituency	Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill
tabling member printed	Hugh Gaffney
uin	286335
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>An Impact Assessment of the benefit freeze was published in 2015, this is available in the link below.</p><p><a href="https://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-006C.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-006C.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 16:33:35 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4614 label Biography information for Hugh Gaffney

1144346

registered interest
date	03/09/2019
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: Payments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to recalculate universal credit payments to take account of recipients who are required to make 53 rent payments in a year.
tabling member constituency	Hyndburn
tabling member printed	Graham P Jones
uin	286189
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Neither tenants or landlords lose a week’s rent in a 53 weekly rent payment year as has been alleged; no year contains 53 weeks. The problem is alignment between weekly and monthly cycles. Each month the UC housing element is a constant figure but claimants with weekly tenancy agreements will be required to make either four or five rent payments within this period. If the claimant always pays their rent on time, in five payment months they are effectively making payment for part of the following month. That month will always be a four rent payment month, so the combination of the advance payment and the ‘overpayment’ of housing support during that month will get the claimant back on track.</p><p>Where a landlord charges rent weekly on a Monday, because of the way the calendar falls every 5 or 6 years, they will seek 53 rent payments in a year, with the 53rd payment in part covering the tenancy for the first few days of the following year. The effect of this is that, over the course of the next housing association rental year, a tenant’s UC payments will accurately reflect their liability, irrespective of the 53 payment weeks.</p><p>There is a separate issue with respect to the way the calculation in the Universal Credit regulations converts a weekly liability into a monthly allowance. The conversion is achieved by multiplying the weekly rent by 52 and then dividing by 12. This effectively means one day’s rent a year (two days in a leap years) are not covered by UC. We are currently considering whether this formulation around weekly rents, and potentially other weekly amounts in the UC calculation, should be amended.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 12:45:52 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	3999 label Biography information for Graham P Jones