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1124133

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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	Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance her Department issues to GPs on the provision of fit notes for patients who are undergoing an appeal for employment and support allowance.
tabling member constituency	Warrington South
tabling member printed	Faisal Rashid
uin	249916
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>The Department provides  guidance on the benefits system for GPs which is available at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-short-guide-to-the-benefit-system-for-general-practitioners" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-short-guide-to-the-benefit-system-for-general-practitioners</a>.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 07/05/2019 13:47:28 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4670 label Biography information for Faisal Rashid

1124171

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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	State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
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 not all UK pensioners living overseas receive annual pension uprating.
tabling member constituency	North Thanet
tabling member printed	Sir Roger Gale
uin	249790
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>Since WW2 successive Governments, Labour, the Coalition and Conservatives have had the same policy. The policy on up-rating the UK State Pension abroad is long-standing and unchanged. UK State Pensions are payable worldwide and they are up-rated for overseas residents where there is a legal requirement to do so.</p><p> </p><p>The cost of up-rating State Pensions would increase by more than £3 billion over five years if payments to recipients in countries where they are not currently up-rated were increased to the rates payable had the recipients never left the UK. It is not proposed to change this policy.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 249963 question first answered 08/05/2019 14:52:36 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	87 label Biography information for Sir Roger Gale

1124182

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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: Arrears
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many of the universal credit claimants who have taken an advance payment on their first payment are in arrears.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	249941
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of safeguarding the welfare of claimants who have incurred debt. Universal Credit already has procedures and regulations in place to protect claimants from excessive deductions. The maximum rate of deductions cannot normally exceed 40% of the Universal Credit standard allowance, and from October 2019, this will be reduced to 30% of a claimant’s standard allowance of their UC award. 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.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit (UC) new claim advances provide access to a payment for those in financial need, which can be accessed on the same day, until their first UC payment is due. Claimants can access up to 100% of the total expected monthly award, for which they can pay back over a period of up to 12 months, and in the Autumn Budget 2018, we announced that from October 2021, the payback period for these advances will be extended further, up to 16 months.</p><p> </p><p>Currently there are around 850,000 claimants that have a UC advance repayment in place. Of these claimants, the table below shows 440,000 also have at least one other debt relating to benefit overpayments, social fund loans or previous advances (figures rounded to nearest ten thousand). The data held by the Department does not include other third party debts, for example arrears, utility bills or other borrowing. However, research conducted by Almo’s shows that while many people join UC with pre-existing arears, this fell by a third after 4 months on universal credit.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Debt Source/Combination</p></td><td><p>Volume</p></td><td><p>Percent</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Tax Credits only</p></td><td><p>120,000</p></td><td><p>27.31</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Social Fund only</p></td><td><p>80,000</p></td><td><p>18.29</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Other Combinations inc Social Fund</p></td><td><p>62,000</p></td><td><p>14.04</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Other Combinations</p></td><td><p>40,000</p></td><td><p>9.05</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>UC Overpayment only</p></td><td><p>22,000</p></td><td><p>4.94</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Other Combinations inc UC</p></td><td><p>20,000</p></td><td><p>4.49</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Other Combinations inc Leg OP &amp; SF</p></td><td><p>18,000</p></td><td><p>4.05</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Legacy Benefit overpayment only</p></td><td><p>18,000</p></td><td><p>4.04</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Other Combinations inc Legacy</p></td><td><p>17,000</p></td><td><p>3.89</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>UC Recoverable Hardship Payment</p></td><td><p>10,000</p></td><td><p>2.39</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Legacy Benefit overpayment and Social Fund</p></td><td><p>10,000</p></td><td><p>2.22</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Housing Benefit only</p></td><td><p>10,000</p></td><td><p>2.20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Tax Credits &amp; Housing Benefit</p></td><td><p>9,000</p></td><td><p>2.05</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Housing Benefit &amp; Social Fund</p></td><td><p>5,000</p></td><td><p>1.03</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Source: DWP internal statistics</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p> </p><p>1. Data has been sourced from DWP internal statistics.</p><p>2. The figures within the data table for those with more than two types of benefit debt have been combined and reported according to whether they have both a legacy benefit (LegOP) and a social fund (SF) debt, either of these singularly or another UC related debt.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 249847 question first answered 08/05/2019 17:20:03 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1124183

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people in receipt of severe disability premium (SDP) who claimed universal credit before 16 January 2019 and who will be repaid their entitlement to SDP when the Universal Credit (Managed Migration) Regulations 2018 come into force.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	249942
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question 215614, from 6 February 2019.</p><p> </p><p>Since the introduction of The Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) (SDP Gateway) Amendment Regulations 2019, which came into force on 16th January 2019, claimants who are entitled, or have been within the last month, to an award of an existing benefit that includes SDP have not been required to move to Universal Credit; even if they have experienced a relevant change in their circumstances. The draft Universal Credit (Managed Migration Pilot and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019, which are currently before Parliament, make provision for SDP transitional payments for those eligible claimants who have already moved to UC and for moving existing legacy claimants onto Universal Credit and implementing transitional protection.</p><p>We are currently considering the court judgment handed down on 3 May 2019.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 08/05/2019 13:44:40 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1124189

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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	Food Poverty: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of disabled people in food poverty.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	249834
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>We will spend over £55 billion this year (2019/20) on benefits to support disabled people and people with health conditions. This is around 2.5% of GDP, and over 6% of government spending, and as a share of GDP, the UK’s public spending is second highest in the G7, bar Germany [OECD 2015 data]. This year spending on the main disability benefits (PIP, DLA and Attendance Allowance) will be over £6bn higher in real terms than it was in 2010.</p><p> </p><p>Alongside this, we want to build a better understanding of household food needs so that future support reaches those who need it most. The new questions that we are including on the Family Resources Survey starting from April 2019 will enable us to better understand the drivers of food insecurity and identify which groups are most at risk.</p><p> </p><p>We are committed to helping people with health conditions and disabilities move nearer to the labour market and, when ready, into work, by building more personalised tailored employment and health support, such as:</p><ul><li>The Work and Health programme, which was rolled out between November 2017 and March 2018, and will provide innovative support for around 275,000 people. The majority of people of starting on the programme (around 220,000) will be disabled people who can volunteer for the programme at any time.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Access to Work, which is a demand-led, discretionary grant scheme that offers advice and in-work support above the level of statutory reasonable adjustments to disabled people who are in work or about to start work, up to an annual limit of £59,200 per person.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>We also are promoting the skills and talents of disabled people and those with long term health conditions to employers through the Disability Confident Scheme. The Scheme focuses on the crucial role that employers play in ensuring disabled people are recruited, retained and developed in their careers. Over 11,500 employers have already signed up to the campaign, and this number continues to grow.</li></ul> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 08/05/2019 11:57:41 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1124222

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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	State Retirement Pensions: Reciprocal Arrangements
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what effect the UK leaving the EU without a deal would have on reciprocal pension agreements with EU member states.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	249961
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government has consistently put citizens’ rights first in our negotiations with the EU. The best way to guarantee those rights, which include social security, both for UK nationals in the EU and EU citizens in the UK, is the deal that the Government has secured. The Government supported the amendment put forward by Alberto Costa MP which requires the Government to seek a joint UK/EU commitment to preserve the citizens’ rights section of the Withdrawal Agreement whatever the outcome of negotiations. The letter to the European Commission setting out the Government’s position and the Commission’s reply is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/costa-amendment-letter-to-the-eu-institutions" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/costa-amendment-letter-to-the-eu-institutions</a></p><p> </p><p>The current EU arrangements providing for reciprocity in social security would no longer apply if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 249962 question first answered 14/05/2019 13:52:36 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1124223

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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	State Retirement Pensions: Reciprocal Arrangements
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions the Government have held with (a) the EU and (b) individual EU member states on reciprocal pension agreements after the UK leaves the EU.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	249962
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>The Government has consistently put citizens’ rights first in our negotiations with the EU. The best way to guarantee those rights, which include social security, both for UK nationals in the EU and EU citizens in the UK, is the deal that the Government has secured. The Government supported the amendment put forward by Alberto Costa MP which requires the Government to seek a joint UK/EU commitment to preserve the citizens’ rights section of the Withdrawal Agreement whatever the outcome of negotiations. The letter to the European Commission setting out the Government’s position and the Commission’s reply is available at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/costa-amendment-letter-to-the-eu-institutions" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/costa-amendment-letter-to-the-eu-institutions</a></p><p> </p><p>The current EU arrangements providing for reciprocity in social security would no longer apply if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 249961 question first answered 14/05/2019 13:52:36 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1124224

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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	State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
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 the Government has not agreed to uprate the pensions of UK nationals resident outside the EU; and if will she make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	249963
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>Since WW2 successive Governments, Labour, the Coalition and Conservatives have had the same policy. The policy on up-rating the UK State Pension abroad is long-standing and unchanged. UK State Pensions are payable worldwide and they are up-rated for overseas residents where there is a legal requirement to do so.</p><p> </p><p>The cost of up-rating State Pensions would increase by more than £3 billion over five years if payments to recipients in countries where they are not currently up-rated were increased to the rates payable had the recipients never left the UK. It is not proposed to change this policy.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 249790 question first answered 08/05/2019 14:52:36 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1124225

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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	State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government has made an (a) reciprocal or (b) unilateral agreement to maintain the annual increases to the pensions of UK citizens residing in the Republic of Ireland if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Romford
tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
uin	249964
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/05/2019 answer text <p>The UK and Ireland signed on the 1 February 2019 a reciprocal agreement which will protect the social security rights of UK and Irish nationals living and/or working in each other’s state when the UK leaves the EU. It allows for the payment of each country’s uprated state pensions to recipients living in the other.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 14/05/2019 14:34:21 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1124244

registered interest
date	01/05/2019
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: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what provisions are being made for severe disability premium (SDP) claimants who were moved on to universal credit before the transitional SDP amount came into force.
tabling member constituency	Ogmore
tabling member printed	Chris Elmore
uin	249981
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/05/2019 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer to Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&amp;max=20&amp;questiontype=AllQuestions&amp;house=commons%2clords&amp;uin=249942" target="_blank">249942</a>.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 249983 question first answered 10/05/2019 15:05:21 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4572 label Biography information for Chris Elmore