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1674643

registered interest
date	01/12/2023
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 Services: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department provides to people who are waiting for (a) trauma, (b) joint replacement and (c) other orthopaedic treatment who are unable to live independently until they receive that treatment.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	4870
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2023 answer text <p>Benefits and support for people with a health condition or disability are not condition-based. Eligibility will depend on the claimant’s individual circumstances, and needs, including work history where relevant.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill grouped question UIN 4868 question first answered 11/12/2023 17:19:47 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1674427

registered interest
date	30/11/2023
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 Independence Payment: Charcot Marie Tooth Disease
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that Personal Independence Payment assessment providers have awareness of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
tabling member constituency	Bradford South
tabling member printed	Judith Cummins
uin	4693
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2023 answer text <p>Personal Independence Payment assessment providers (APs) are required to ensure that all health professionals (HP) carrying out assessments are experts in disability analysis, focusing on the effects of health conditions and impairments on the individual claimant's daily life</p><p><br> Whilst HPs do not receive specific training relating to Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, they have access to a range of resources as well as experienced clinicians who can support them in assessing individuals with conditions that they may not be familiar with. APs also engage with medical experts, charities, and relevant stakeholders to strengthen their training programmes.</p><p> </p><p>In the Health &amp; Disability White Paper, the department committed to developing the skills of HPs. As a result, the department began a proof of concept to match an individual's primary health condition to a HP who has professional experience in their condition. In addition to their professional experience, HPs will also take part in training to specialise in the functional impacts of specific health conditions.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 05/12/2023 12:02:34 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4391 label Biography information for Judith Cummins

1674515

registered interest
date	30/11/2023
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: Disqualification
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, in the most recent period of 12 months for which data are available, how many benefit claims were cancelled or suspended while third-party accusations about claimants' circumstances were investigated, what proportion of those claims were fully reinstated following an investigation, and what was the average length of time taken to investigate those claims.
tabling member printed	Lord Field of Birkenhead
uin	HL760
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2023 answer text <p>DWP values the role played by members of the public in reporting suspected fraud and takes appropriate action in relation to all such allegations. However, we do not hold information regarding the number of such cases suspended or closed whilst a fraud investigation is ongoing.</p><p> </p><p>A claim would only be suspended whilst investigations are ongoing where there is strong intelligence/evidence that benefit entitlement is in doubt. The claimant would be informed of the specific reason for this, with all decisions on suspension being made in accordance with legislation and case law.</p><p> </p><p>Such decisions are not taken lightly but are important in ensuring not only that losses to the public purse as a result of suspected fraud are minimised, but also in ensuring that the individual concerned does not incur potentially large benefit overpayments that they might later be required to repay.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 12/12/2023 13:42:53 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1673906

registered interest
date	29/11/2023
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	Work Capability Assessment: Parkinson's Disease
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 the role of informal observations made by PIP assessors in mandatory reconsiderations for PIP where the claimant has a diagnosis of Parkinson’s.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	4431
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2023 answer text <p>Entitlement to PIP is assessed based on the needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability, not the health condition or disability itself. The PIP Assessment Guide, used by health professionals who conduct PIP assessments, sets out how informal observations of functional limitations should be used.</p><p> </p><p>Informal observations can be a way to reveal abilities and limitations not mentioned in the claimant questionnaire, supporting evidence, or history taking during the consultation. However, they are only part of the suite of evidence considered by health professionals during an assessment. They must also consider the invisible nature of some symptoms, such as fatigue and pain which may be less easy to identify through observation.</p><p> </p><p>Informal observations included in a health professional’s advice to DWP are not viewed in isolation; they are considered alongside all other available evidence to determine PIP entitlement.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 05/12/2023 11:59:04 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1673996

registered interest
date	29/11/2023
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	Access to Work Programme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications for Access to Work support were received in each month since 1 May 2022.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Wendy Chamberlain
uin	4568
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>The information requested about Access to Work applications is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p /><p>However, Access to Work statistics include how many applications result in provision being approved from 2007/08 to 2022/23. Please see Table 3 of the Access to Work statistics.</p><p /><p>The latest Access to Work statistics can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/access-to-work-statistics" target="_blank">Access to Work statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 04/12/2023 11:54:31 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4765 label Biography information for Wendy Chamberlain

1674014

registered interest
date	29/11/2023
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 Independence Payment: Internet
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to allow Personal Independence Payment applications to be made online.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	4480
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2023 answer text <p>The Health Transformation Programme (HTP) is modernising health and disability benefit services. We are developing the new service carefully, designing it around the needs of claimants.</p><p>We have introduced a digital version of the PIP2 health questionnaire, which is now offered to the majority of those making a claim. This is offered to those who call us to begin their claim.</p><p>We have also begun trialling a fully online application for PIP. Since 27 July, people in selected postcode districts may be able to apply for PIP online via GOV.UK if they:</p><ul><li>Live in England.</li><li>Are claiming for themselves or helping someone with their claim.</li><li>Are not already claiming PIP or Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or have a previous PIP/DLA claim.</li></ul><p>The online service is an additional optional route to apply for PIP and is not replacing the existing methods of telephony or post.</p><p> </p><p>The current testing phase is allowing us to test the functionality and stability of the service; the department intends to scale the service gradually and safely. We aim to make the online applications for PIP available nationally across England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the end of 2024.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 05/12/2023 12:29:21 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1674015

registered interest
date	29/11/2023
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 Independence Payment: Telephone Services
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 impact of phone-based applications for Personal Independence Payment on people with energy-impaired illnesses.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	4481
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2023 answer text <p>We recognise that even short calls can be stressful or difficult for some claimants with certain types of conditions. We therefore offer a number of alternatives:</p><p> </p><p>We can issue a clerical form, known as a PIP1, which claimants can complete and return by post.</p><p> </p><p>Claims to PIP can also be made by via the Video Relay Service (via Relay UK) for BSL users if someone can’t hear or speak on the phone, or via email/accessible forms for those that need that as a reasonable adjustment.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, we aim to make online applications for PIP available nationally by the end of 2024.</p><p> </p><p>We inform claimants of all these channel options on Gov.UK, or if claimants explain their requirements when they speak to a new claim telephony agent.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 08/12/2023 13:54:57 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1674087

registered interest
date	29/11/2023
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	Local Housing Allowance
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 potential impact of the refreezing of Local Housing Allowance after 2025 on low income renters.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Wendy Chamberlain
uin	4569
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>The Secretary of State has completed his review of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates for 2024/25. As announced by the Chancellor in the recent Autumn Statement, from April 2024 the Government will be investing £1.2 billion increasing LHA rates to the 30th percentile of local market rents. This results in a significant investment of £7bn over five years and ensures 1.6 million private renters in receipt of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit will gain, on average, nearly £800 per year in additional help towards their rental costs in 2024/25.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State has committed to reviewing LHA rates annually and the rates for 2025/26 have not yet been reviewed.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 04/12/2023 16:25:37 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4765 label Biography information for Wendy Chamberlain

1674088

registered interest
date	29/11/2023
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: Poverty
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Autumn Statement 2023, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of changes to Work Capability Assessments on levels of poverty among benefit claimants.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Wendy Chamberlain
uin	4570
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2023 answer text <p>It is not possible to produce a robust estimate of the impact of the changes to Work Capability Assessments on levels of poverty amongst benefit claimants.</p><p> </p><p>We published our response to the consultation on changes to the Work Capability Assessment criteria on 22 November, having carefully considered feedback from disabled people, and people with health conditions, as well as the organisations that represent and support them.</p><p> </p><p>From 2025, we will make changes to the WCA that continue to protect those with the most severe conditions, while ensuring those that can work are supported in doing so. Most existing claimants that have already been assessed without work-related requirements, will be able to benefit from our Chance to Work Guarantee. This change will in effect abolish the WCA for the vast majority of this group, and they will be able to move towards work without fear of reassessment.</p><p> </p><p>It is right that where people can be supported towards work that they are given that opportunity. There is clear evidence about the importance of work in substantially reducing the risks of poverty - in 2021/22, working age adults living in workless families were seven times more likely to be in absolute poverty after housing costs than working age adults in families where all adults work. These measures are focused on improving employment and independent living outcomes for disabled people and people with health conditions and spreading opportunity right across the country so people can fulfil their potential.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 08/12/2023 10:35:32 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4765 label Biography information for Wendy Chamberlain

1674089

registered interest
date	29/11/2023
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: Poverty
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 potential impact of the Autumn Statement 2023 on levels of poverty among benefit claimants.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Wendy Chamberlain
uin	4571
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/12/2023 answer text <p>We are providing support to households to help with the high cost of living worth £104 billion over 2022-23 to 2024-25. This includes, subject to Parliamentary approval, raising working age benefits by 6.7% and State pensions by 8.5% from April next year on top of this year’s 10.1% uprating for all State pensions and benefits.</p><p> </p><p>To support low-income households with increasing rent costs, the government will also raise Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30th percentile of local market rents for private renters from April 2024. This will benefit 1.6m low-income households by on average £800 a year in 24/25.</p><p> </p><p>We are also, from April, increasing the National Living Wage for workers aged 21 years and over by 9.8% to £11.44 representing an increase of over £1,800 to the gross annual earnings of a full-time worker on the National Living Wage.</p><p> </p><p>We estimate that in 2024/5 around 20 million families will benefit from the uprating of DWP and HMRC benefits in Great Britain. This will include around 8 million pensioner and around 11 million working age families and around 1 million mixed age couples.</p><p> </p><p>In 2024/25, around 5.5 million Universal Credit families are forecast to benefit from uprating with an average annual gain for a family on Universal Credit estimated to be £470 (equivalent to an increase of around £39 per month), however gains will vary depending on the elements received by different family types. An assessment of the benefit uprating policy has been published <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/benefit-uprating-estimated-number-and-type-of-families-and-individuals-in-families-benefitting-from-the-uprating-of-benefits-in-2024-to-2025/benefit-uprating-estimated-number-and-type-of-gb-families-and-individuals-in-families-benefitting-from-the-uprating-of-benefits-in-202425" target="_blank">here</a>.</p><p> </p><p>On average, households in the poorest income deciles are gaining the most in cash terms and as a percentage of net income in 2023-24 as a result of government policies announced at Autumn Statement 2022. This Government has overseen significant falls in absolute poverty since 2009/10. In 2021/22 there were 1.7 million fewer people in absolute poverty after housing costs than in 2009/10, including 400,000 fewer children and 1 million fewer working age adults.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 07/12/2023 14:52:59 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4765 label Biography information for Wendy Chamberlain