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1167462

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2019
	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	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, if she will make an (a) estimate of the cost to the public purse of restoring local housing allowance to cover the cheapest third of local rents over three years, (b) assessment of the potential effect of that policy on the number of (i) individuals and (ii) families including children (A) able to remain in existing accommodation and (B) no longer classed as being in poverty and (C) assessment of the potential effect on the public purse of changes resulting from that policy in the level of demand for temporary accommodation and other homelessness services.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	7721
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>We estimate the cost of restoring Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30<sup>th</sup> percentile of local rents would be about £800 million in 2020/21, £1,000 million in 2021/22 and £1,200 million in 2022/23. This excludes any changes in behaviour by tenants and landlords.</p><p> </p><p>We have not made an estimate of the effect on staying in the same accommodation, or on savings that might arise in temporary accommodation and other homelessness services.</p><p> </p><p>Poverty projections are inherently speculative as they require projecting how income will change for every individual in society, and this is affected by a huge range of factors.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/11/2019 11:40:30 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1167475

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2019
	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	Bereavement Benefits: Cohabitation
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the amount of money bereaved partners potentially missed by not being eligible to receive bereavement benefits reserved for married couples in the last 12 months.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	7636
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>We are still refining our methodology in our assessment of cohabitees that have not received bereavement benefits, and therefore cannot provide a final estimate of expenditure.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/11/2019 16:20:48 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1167518

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2019
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Daily Mail and Metro Newspaper
	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 17 October 2019 to Question 323, when he plans to place the memorandum in the Library.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	7797
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>The Department has sent a copy of the memorandum of 2 May 2019 to the House’s Library. We have been advised by the Library that it is currently processing the deposit of this document.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 04/11/2019 17:19:58 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1167519

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2019
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Metro Newspaper
	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 17 October 2019 to Question 316, whether the graphics used in the six-week long advertising campaign entitled, Universal Credit Uncovered, in The Metro were designed by (a) staff in her Department or (b) Associated Newspapers.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	7798
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>The information used in the ‘Universal Credit Uncovered’ Metro campaign was sourced by Departmental officials. The campaign graphics were designed by Metro’s in-house design team as part of the Department’s media partnership with them.</p><p> </p><p>We went to great lengths to ensure the factual accuracy of the campaign through extensive consultation within the Department, including the Government Legal Department. We also consulted with the Advertising Standards Authority Copy Advice Team prior to the launch and continued to do so throughout the campaign lifetime.</p><p> </p><p>The Metro partnership was designed to increase understanding of Universal Credit and ensure people have the right factual information they need to make a claim and understand their potential entitlement.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 04/11/2019 17:20:19 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1167004

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2019
	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	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, with reference to the 2 July 2019 research, Cover the cost: restoring local housing allowance rates to prevent homelessness, commissioned by Crisis on 2 July 2019, if her Department will undertake a cost-benefit analysis to assess the potential effect of restoring local housing allowance rates to the level of the cheapest third of local rents.
	tabling member constituency	Walthamstow
	tabling member printed	Stella Creasy
	uin	7137
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>We estimate the cost would be about £800 million in 2020/21, excluding any changes in behaviour by tenants and landlords.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 04/11/2019 18:29:26 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4088 label Biography information for Stella Creasy

1167164

	registered interest
	date	29/10/2019
	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 and Welfare State
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department plans to respond to the Work and Pensions Committee’s (a) twenty-seventh report of Session 2017-19, Universal Credit: natural migration, HC 1884 and (b) twenty-eighth report of Session 2017-19, Welfare safety net, HC 1539.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	7075
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2019 answer text <p>The Department has carefully reviewed the recommendations made by the Work and Pensions Select Committee in both reports. A response to the (b) twenty-eighth report of Session 2017-19, Welfare safety net, HC 1539 was sent on 1 November 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s response to (a) twenty-seventh report of Session 2017-19, Universal Credit: natural migration, HC 1884 will be sent to the Work and Pensions Committee in due course.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 04/11/2019 17:21:23 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1166656

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2019
	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, whether she plans to publish easy-to-read guidance on making a non-digital claim for universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	North West Durham
	tabling member printed	Laura Pidcock
	uin	6508
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>The Department makes use of a range of channels to increase understanding of Universal Credit through social media and wider advertising. This includes signposting to sources of information which are written in an ‘easy-to-read’ format to help people make decisions on whether Universal Credit is appropriate for their circumstances.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We publish information in two key locations to help improve awareness of, and how to claim Universal Credit, which can be found at the following websites:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/making-a-claim/before-you-claim/" target="_blank">https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/making-a-claim/before-you-claim/</a></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-detailed-information-for-claimants" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-detailed-information-for-claimants</a></p><p> </p><p>If a person wishes to claim Universal Credit but requires assistance, they are clearly directed to either the Help to Claim service, or to the Universal Credit telephone helpline. Both can be useful to anyone who cannot use digital services.</p><p> </p><p>Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland have been delivering the ‘Help to Claim’ service on a pilot basis since April 2019. The Citizens Advice Help to Claim service offers tailored, practical support from helping people make a Universal Credit claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time. This service is available online, on the phone and face-to-face through local Citizen’s Advice services.</p><p> </p><p>We regularly engage with a range of stakeholders, including welfare rights organisations, to ensure we gather and understand a diverse range of opinions, which helps us to design improvements to Universal Credit.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 6509 question first answered 31/10/2019 17:51:08 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4665 label Biography information for Laura Pidcock

1166657

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2019
	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, if she will consult (a) welfare rights advisers and (b) professionals with experience of supporting people with complex needs on drafting guidance on making a non-digital claim for universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	North West Durham
	tabling member printed	Laura Pidcock
	uin	6509
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>The Department makes use of a range of channels to increase understanding of Universal Credit through social media and wider advertising. This includes signposting to sources of information which are written in an ‘easy-to-read’ format to help people make decisions on whether Universal Credit is appropriate for their circumstances.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We publish information in two key locations to help improve awareness of, and how to claim Universal Credit, which can be found at the following websites:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/making-a-claim/before-you-claim/" target="_blank">https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/making-a-claim/before-you-claim/</a></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-detailed-information-for-claimants" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-detailed-information-for-claimants</a></p><p> </p><p>If a person wishes to claim Universal Credit but requires assistance, they are clearly directed to either the Help to Claim service, or to the Universal Credit telephone helpline. Both can be useful to anyone who cannot use digital services.</p><p> </p><p>Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland have been delivering the ‘Help to Claim’ service on a pilot basis since April 2019. The Citizens Advice Help to Claim service offers tailored, practical support from helping people make a Universal Credit claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time. This service is available online, on the phone and face-to-face through local Citizen’s Advice services.</p><p> </p><p>We regularly engage with a range of stakeholders, including welfare rights organisations, to ensure we gather and understand a diverse range of opinions, which helps us to design improvements to Universal Credit.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 6508 question first answered 31/10/2019 17:51:08 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4665 label Biography information for Laura Pidcock

1166658

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2019
	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, whether an online universal credit claim can be converted into a non-digital claim.
	tabling member constituency	North West Durham
	tabling member printed	Laura Pidcock
	uin	6510
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>The Department takes seriously the need to support vulnerable claimants, and wants the application process for Universal Credit to be as quick and easy as possible, ensuring that claimants receive money at the earliest opportunity. It is designed to be a ‘digital-first’ service, ensuring we make best use of technology to deliver a modern and effective working-age welfare system, allowing our staff to concentrate on those people who require additional support.</p><p> </p><p>Any digital claim can be treated as a non-digital claim. For instance, if a claimant’s circumstances change and contacting them digitally is no longer suitable for a short or significant period of time, agents can annotate the claim and take the same action as they would have if the claim had originally made as a non-digital claim.</p><p> </p><p>We are already committed to placing Universal Credit guidance in the House of Commons Library and last updated it on 28 March 2019.</p><p> </p><p>Our Universal Credit Claimant Survey, found that 98 per cent of claimants have internet access and did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be straightforward. This can be accessed at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-full-service-claimant-survey" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-full-service-claimant-survey</a></p><p> </p><p>All Jobcentre Plus offices across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. For those that are still unable to access or use digital services, or are not able to travel, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline – which is clearly displayed on GOV.UK.</p><p> </p><p>Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland have been delivering the ‘Help to Claim’ service on a pilot basis since April 2019. The Citizens Advice Help to Claim service offers tailored, practical support to help people make a Universal Credit claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time, and is available online, on the phone and face-to-face through local Citizen’s Advice services.</p><p> </p><p>Although the Department offers comprehensive support for claimants to use our digital service, there will be occasions when people are unable to make their claim online, and so telephone applications can be accepted. In these instances, information normally available through a claimant’s online account, will be communicated in an alternative format which is best suited to an individual’s circumstances.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 31/10/2019 17:59:57 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4665 label Biography information for Laura Pidcock

1166684

	registered interest
	date	28/10/2019
	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 alternative payment arrangements for fortnightly payment of universal credit were (a) requested, (b) rejected and (c) accepted in the most recent 12 month period for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	6230
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 31/10/2019 answer text <p>The Department is unable to provide data relating to (a) requested and (b) rejected alternative payment arrangements for fortnightly payment of Universal Credit as the information is not readily available, and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In response to part (c), the available information on the number of households on Universal Credit that receive More Frequent Payments or Scottish Choices More Frequent Payments is published and can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p>Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p>Notes:</p><ol><li>Statistics are based on whether a household has actually been paid a More Frequent Payment.</li><li>Data will not include households that had a More Frequent Payment set up but were not actually paid more frequently, for instance because they cancelled the More Frequent Payment before they were paid.</li></ol> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 31/10/2019 17:45:27 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead