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758321

	registered interest
	date	06/09/2017
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what transitional arrangements are in place for claimants whose health deteriorates when in receipt of jobseeker's allowance if their claim is stopped and they are advised to claim employment support allowance.
	tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
	tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
	uin	9203
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2017 answer text <p><del class="ministerial">Since August 2017 we have been focussing on more proactive case management to reduce delays and speed up the clearance of mandatory reconsiderations for personal independence payment. A similar exercise for mandatory reconsiderations for employment and support allowance has started, looking at the entire journey from when the customer first challenges the Department’s decision, from which we expect to be able to identify opportunities to reduce delays in the current process and speed up clearance of mandatory reconsiderations.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">The median monthly clearance time for employment and support allowance mandatory reconsiderations in July 2017 was 13 days, 1 day less than in April 2017. However it is important that sufficient time is allowed for customers to provide any additional evidence that will help to support their case. Accordingly there is no target time for clearing mandatory reconsiderations – each is done without delay, but based on its merits.</del></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial"> <p><ins class="ministerial">If a JSA claimant’s health deteriorates, and the period of sickness is expected to exceed 13 weeks, a claim should be made to ESA or Universal Credit (UC) in relevant geographical areas.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">In this instance the claimant would need to close their JSA claim and make a new claim to ESA. ESA can be claimed immediately following the closure of a JSA claim and, provided the claim to ESA was made within 12 weeks of closing their JSA claim, the claimant would not have to serve waiting days.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">There are no transitional arrangements between the benefits however, the aim is for there to be no unnecessary interruption of funds to the individual. Where a claimant is in urgent financial need whilst their ESA claim is being processed, they can apply for additional support in the form of an advance on their first payment, known as a “short term benefit advance”, or a hardship payment. The claimant will receive a benefit advance payment on the same or next working day.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">If the JSA claimant’s period of sickness is likely to be for less than 13 weeks (referred to as an Extended Period of Sickness (EPS)), the claimant may choose to remain in receipt of JSA rather than claiming ESA/UC. If they choose to do this, they will receive the same amount of JSA benefit.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">To qualify for an EPS the claimant must not be fit for any work and this will be determined based on the medical evidence supplied. During this period the claimant will be treated as being available for work, and the Work Coach will tailor the conditionality requirements on their Claimant Commitment, taking into account the claimant’s health condition.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">An EPS can only be declared for one continuous period of sickness of 13 weeks or less in any 12 month period calculated from the start of the period of sickness. Once it is clear the period of sickness will last for 13 weeks or more, the claimant will be advised to make a claim to ESA or UC.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">In areas where UC Full Service is in place, the claimant will be advised to claim UC rather than ESA.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">One of the policy designs of Universal Credit is that it removes the need for claimants to switch between different benefits as their circumstances change, simplifying the system and ensuring continuity for claimants.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">As stated, there are no transitional arrangements for UC. Where a claimant advises they cannot manage financially until their pay day (UC is paid monthly, unlike JSA and ESA which are fortnightly), an advance can be made. This advance is recoverable from further payments of UC, at a rate agreed between the claimant and the Work Coach.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"> </ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Universal Credit is a much simpler system with clearer rules and clearer rates. It has an easy to use online account, where claimants can report changes of circumstance in real time. UC Support for disabled people under UC reflects two core components of the old ESA system, ensuring that more severely disabled people benefit from higher payments.</ins></p></ins></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 28/09/2017 14:56:40 question first ministerially corrected 04/10/2017 11:07:49 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt previous answer version 13091 answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

768227

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2017
	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: North West
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what venues were used for assessments for (a) employment and support allowance and (b) personal independence payments in the North West of England in 2016; and what the cost was of hiring each such venue.
	tabling member constituency	Preston
	tabling member printed	Mr Mark Hendrick
	uin	106873
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/10/2017 answer text <p>Throughout 2016, the following 18 venues were used for the delivery of Employment and Support Allowance assessments in the North West. Barrow, Birkenhead, Blackpool, Bootle, Carlisle, Chester, Crewe, Lancaster, Mann Island, St Helens, Warrington, Workington, Bolton, Burnley, Manchester, Preston, Stockport, Wigan.</p><p>Throughout 2016, the following 29 venues were used for the delivery of Personal Independence Payments (PIP) assessments in the North West. Wigan, Carlisle, Stockport, Manchester Brewery Yard, Barrow, Liverpool, Blackpool, Blackburn, Crewe, Warrington, Birkenhead, Preston Marshall House, Preston GreenbankCentre, Ormskirk, Lancaster, Manchester The Lilac Centre, Rochdale, Bolton, Prescot Eccleston House, Birkenhead, Chester, Childwall, Warrington, Anfield, Carlisle, PrescotPhysio First, Stockport, Runcorn, Burnley</p><p> </p><p>Under the Health and Disability Assessment Service contract the DWP provides the estate and pays an all-inclusive unitary price for the facility management services provided. Rental costs are not separately identified from other services delivered.</p><p>Under the PIP contract the supplier sources the estate and costs are included in the contract price.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 24/10/2017 09:58:19 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	473 label Biography information for Sir Mark Hendrick

768206

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2017
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has any plans to review the personal independence payments assessment criteria.
	tabling member constituency	Aberavon
	tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
	uin	107039
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2017 answer text <p>There are no current plans to review the Personal Independence Payment assessment criteria.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 18/10/2017 11:00:42 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

768208

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2017
	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: Appeals
	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 merits of introducing an assessment rate for personal independence payments during the appeals process.
	tabling member constituency	Aberavon
	tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
	uin	107037
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2017 answer text <p>No assessment or costings exercise has been made in relation to introducing an assessment rate for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) during the appeal process. As for other decisions in law, a PIP decision persists until such time as an appeal against the decision is concluded. As PIP can be paid at one of eight different rates this means that those appealing against a successful award continue to be paid the level of PIP awarded by the Secretary of State during the appeal process.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt grouped question UIN 107038 question first answered 18/10/2017 11:08:44 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

768214

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2017
	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
	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 (a) quality and (b) consistency in the delivery of personal independence payment assessments across the UK in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Aberavon
	tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
	uin	107048
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2017 answer text <p>The Department has set standards for the quality of assessments which both Personal Independence Payment providers must meet, which the Department monitors. The standards require assessment providers to provide the Department’s Decision Makers with an assessment that is clear and medically reasonable.</p><p>We are continually working with the assessment providers to further improve the quality of assessments including clinical coaching, feedback and support available to each assessor.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 18/10/2017 13:23:56 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

768215

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2017
	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: Appeals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been spent defending appeals of personal independence payment decisions in (a) the UK, (b) Wales and (c) Aberavon in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Aberavon
	tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
	uin	107049
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2017 answer text <p>The information is not readily available and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 18/10/2017 13:25:59 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

768216

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2017
	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
	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 psychological effect that the personal independence payment assessment process is having on applicants.
	tabling member constituency	Aberavon
	tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
	uin	107050
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2017 answer text <p>We have consulted and engaged widely, and continue to do so, with disabled people, carers and representative organisations to ensure the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment process works smoothly and efficiently for all claimants, regardless of their condition or disability. The PIP assessment allows us to accurately and consistently assess individuals’ needs, ensuring that support is targeted at those disabled people who require the most assistance to lead independent lives.</p><p> </p><p>We do recognise that attending a face-to-face assessment can be a stressful experience for some people, which is why we do not carry out such consultations where there is enough existing evidence to carry out a paper-based assessment. Furthermore, where a face-to-face consultation is required, we encourage claimants to bring another person with them to consultations where they would find this helpful to, for example, reassure them or to help them during the consultation. The person chosen is at the discretion of the claimant and might be, but is not limited to, a parent, family member, friend, carer, or advocate.</p><p> </p><p>Where a face-to-face consultation is required, the Health Professional (HP) carrying it out will be a medically qualified professional and as such, will have the appropriate skills to enable them to deal with people in a supportive and sensitive way. HPs ensure that assessments are relaxed and unhurried, allowing the claimant time and encouraging them to explain in their own words how their health condition or disability impacts their ability to carry out the PIP activities. It is important that the consultation feels like a genuine two way conversation.</p><p> </p><p>In 2016 DWP commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct independent research with PIP claimants covering all aspects of the PIP journey, from initial claim, the assessment process through to mandatory reconsideration and appeal. The first phase of the research, examining the initial claims process, was published in the Department’s research report series in March. Subsequent findings from stages two and three of the research, including findings on assessments, will be published in late 2017/early 2018 (date to be confirmed).</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 18/10/2017 10:19:43 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

768217

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2017
	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
	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 usefulness of the information provided to personal independence payment claimants on obtaining supporting evidence for their claims.
	tabling member constituency	Aberavon
	tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
	uin	107051
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2017 answer text <p>We currently send an information booklet to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants, which tells them about the types of supporting evidence it is helpful to provide with a claim, when we send the ‘How your disability affects you’ questionnaire for completion.</p><p> </p><p>However, we constantly look to review and improve the experience of people claiming PIP. We are currently considering the recommendations made in the second independent review of PIP (published on 30 March 2017) which included recommendations to improve our information regarding the provision of supporting evidence. We plan to respond to the review’s findings later this year.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 18/10/2017 10:25:06 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

768218

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2017
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he expects the next version of the personal independence payment assessment guide for assessment providers to be published.
	tabling member constituency	Islwyn
	tabling member printed	Chris Evans
	uin	107018
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2017 answer text <p>The Personal Independence Payment Assessment Guide the Department’s guidance for Health Professionals is regularly updated. The next update is scheduled for this Autumn.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 18/10/2017 10:22:14 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4040 label Biography information for Chris Evans

768219

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2017
	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: Complaints
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints were upheld in relation to the personal independence payment assessment process in (a) the UK, (b) Wales and (c) Aberavon in each of the last two years.
	tabling member constituency	Aberavon
	tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
	uin	107036
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2017 answer text <p>The number of complaints upheld in relation to the PIP assessment process in the last is as follows:</p><p> </p><p>Operational Year 15/16 (April 15 to March 2016)</p><p> </p><p>a) In the UK, 133 complaints were closed in relation to the PIP assessment process, of which 67 were upheld</p><p> </p><p>b) In Wales, 4 complaints were closed in relation to the PIP assessment process, of which 2 were upheld</p><p> </p><p>c) The DWP complaints system does not collect information at this level of detail</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Operational Year 16/17 (April 2016 to March 2017)</p><p> </p><p>a) In the UK, 1345 complaints were closed in relation to the PIP assessment process, of which 545 were upheld</p><p> </p><p>b) In Wales, 506 complaints were closed in relation to the PIP assessment process, of which 206 were upheld</p><p> </p><p>c) The DWP complaints system does not collect information at this level of detail</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Data provided for complaints closed and upheld within the 2015/216 and 2016/2017 operational years.</p> answering member constituency Portsmouth North answering member printed Penny Mordaunt question first answered 18/10/2017 13:28:19 answering member 4017 label Biography information for Penny Mordaunt
	tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock