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1000260
unstar this property registered interest true more like this
star this property date less than 2018-11-02more like thismore than 2018-11-02
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the taper that is applied to wages is not applied to pensions in relation to universal credit. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Barnsley Central more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Dan Jarvis more like this
star this property uin 187333 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2018-11-12more like thismore than 2018-11-12
star this property answer text <p>The taper is the rate at which Universal Credit is reduced to take account of earnings. It is specifically for in work claimants and linked to earnings to incentivise work, and those in work to earn more. Universal Credit has a single taper of 63 per cent so payments reduce in a transparent and predictable way as earnings increase. Universal Credit is a means tested benefit, and income other than earnings, such as pensions, is taken fully into account in the assessment of Universal Credit. This is consistent with how legacy means tested benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Income Support treat pension income. Therefore it would not be consistent to extend the earnings taper to pensions income and doing so would also undermine the incentives to work for people of working age.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2018-11-12T18:05:06.27Zmore like thismore than 2018-11-12T18:05:06.27Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4243
star this property label Biography information for Dan Jarvis more like this
1002759
unstar this property registered interest true more like this
star this property date less than 2018-11-06more like thismore than 2018-11-06
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with representatives of staff working in job centres and service centres on difficulties experienced by such staff in (a) applying for and (b) receiving payment as claimants of universal credit. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Glasgow South West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Chris Stephens more like this
star this property uin 188874 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2018-11-12more like thismore than 2018-11-12
star this property answer text <p>My officials regularly meet with trade union representatives to discuss areas of concerns that staff may have.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2018-11-12T17:51:28.387Zmore like thismore than 2018-11-12T17:51:28.387Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4463
star this property label Biography information for Chris Stephens more like this
1002762
unstar this property registered interest true more like this
star this property date less than 2018-11-06more like thismore than 2018-11-06
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what funding the Government has allocated for transitional payments for people moving onto universal credit; and by what process claimants will receive such payments. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Glasgow South West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Chris Stephens more like this
star this property uin 188877 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2018-12-13more like thismore than 2018-12-13
star this property answer text <p>We recently laid the draft Universal Credit (Managed Migration) Regulations 2018 in Parliament. These will introduce a transitional payment to those eligible claimants who were in receipt of the Severe Disability Premium whilst on an existing benefit and who have already moved to Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>As announced in the 2018 Autumn Budget, the income related elements of Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance, and Income Support will continue for two weeks after a claim for Universal Credit has been made from July 2020. Claimants will therefore receive one two week run-on payment when being migrated to Universal Credit. Both of these measures are subject to parliamentary approval. These payments are in addition to the 2 week run-on of Housing Benefit, which we introduced in April 2018.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has also committed to ensuring that claimants who are moved onto Universal Credit as part of the managed migration process see no decrease in their benefit entitlement, providing their circumstances remain the same.</p><p> </p><p>The Government will be spending over £3bn on transitional protection over the next 10 years to ensure that claimants who are migrated onto Universal Credit as part of the managed migration process do not experience a financial loss at the point of transition.</p><p> </p><p>Transitional protection will be calculated based on the claimant’s circumstances on the last day of their entitlement to existing benefits. To do this we will make a comparison between the total amount of all relevant existing benefits to which the claimant was entitled at this point and the total amount of Universal Credit to which the claimant would be entitled as calculated based on the same set of circumstances. If the entitlement to the existing benefits is the greater amount then the difference will be awarded as a Transitional Element. When awarded, this Transitional Element will be taken into account with any other applicable Elements to determine a claimant’s Universal Credit award in each Assessment Period.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2018-12-13T14:37:05.053Zmore like thismore than 2018-12-13T14:37:05.053Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property previous answer version
84612
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4463
star this property label Biography information for Chris Stephens more like this
1079383
unstar this property registered interest true more like this
star this property date less than 2019-02-28more like thismore than 2019-02-28
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of staffing levels in universal credit centres; and what proportion of fixed-term staff working in universal credit centres are on (a) permanent contracts and (b) zero-hour contracts. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Glasgow South West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Chris Stephens more like this
star this property uin 227130 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-03-05more like thismore than 2019-03-05
star this property answer text <p>The Department regularly reviews both the numbers of people working in Universal Credit service centres and their performance to ensure we have the right number of people available to manage claimants Universal Credit claims. Services and staff training is assessed, both in real time to meet any short term peaks in demand and also reviewed for longer term improvements to ensure the service continues to meet customer service expectation.</p><p> </p><p>Our priority is to give all employees, including those delivering Universal Credit, the necessary resources, including manageable workloads, so that they can carry out their roles successfully.</p><p> </p><p>The size of a Case Manager’s caseload is dependent on a number of factors, including the complexity of the caseload and experience of the case manager.</p><p> </p><p>All staff on fixed-term contracts are employed on the basis of agreed full or part time hours. No staff are employed on zero-hour contracts.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-03-05T17:53:37.63Zmore like thismore than 2019-03-05T17:53:37.63Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4463
star this property label Biography information for Chris Stephens more like this
1148774
unstar this property registered interest true more like this
star this property date less than 2019-10-14more like thismore than 2019-10-14
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to permit Universal Credit claimants to backdate a claim due to ill health in circumstances where medical evidence is provided by a GP. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Barnsley Central more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Dan Jarvis more like this
star this property uin 168 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-10-18more like thismore than 2019-10-18
star this property answer text <p>Universal Credit claims may be backdated, by up to one calendar month, in some circumstances for vulnerable claimants who may be delayed in claiming Universal Credit through no fault of their own. More specifically, in cases where medical evidence satisfies the Department that a claimant had an illness that prevented them from making a claim sooner, Universal Credit can be awarded from an earlier date.</p><p> </p><p>In order to provide the best possible support to our claimants it is important that the Department are able to engage with claimants at the earliest possible opportunity, whether to support them back into work or to provide other support and guidance. It is therefore important that backdating provisions are used in specific circumstances, and that all claimants are encouraged to contact us at the earliest opportunity.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-10-18T11:06:26.213Zmore like thismore than 2019-10-18T11:06:26.213Z
star this property answering member
4105
star this property label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
star this property tabling member
4243
star this property label Biography information for Dan Jarvis more like this
1171105
unstar this property registered interest true more like this
star this property date less than 2020-01-15more like thismore than 2020-01-15
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will amend the universal credit (a) application form and (b) online journal to enable applicants to consent to their data being used to automatically register eligible children in their household for free school meals. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Glasgow South West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Chris Stephens more like this
star this property uin 3828 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2020-01-23more like thismore than 2020-01-23
star this property answer text <p>The Universal Credit system is structured around an online personal account which contains all the information relevant to the claim. This includes claimant’s bank account details, savings, capital, medical history, family relationships and address information. We need to ensure a high level of security and protection is maintained to combat unscrupulous individuals and organisations who try to access the information we hold and seek to impersonate genuine advisers. We take all reasonable steps to protect the position of claimants and their data.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants may currently be entitled to a number of other benefits because they are in receipt of Universal Credit. These are known as passported benefits and include free school meals and free prescriptions. The eligibility criteria for each passported benefit remain the responsibility of the departments and devolved administrations that own them. In Scotland and Wales, eligibility criteria for free school meals is a matter for the devolved administrations.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Education provides an electronic eligibility checking service to all local authorities in England, which is used to confirm eligibility for free school meals.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Colchester more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Will Quince more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2020-01-23T17:27:16.483Zmore like thismore than 2020-01-23T17:27:16.483Z
star this property answering member
4423
star this property label Biography information for Will Quince more like this
star this property tabling member
4463
star this property label Biography information for Chris Stephens more like this
1171106
unstar this property registered interest true more like this
star this property date less than 2020-01-15more like thismore than 2020-01-15
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of new claims for universal credit were paid in full and on time by (a) child element, (b) limited capability for work element, (c) childcare element and (d) housing element in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Glasgow South West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Chris Stephens more like this
star this property uin 3829 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2020-01-20more like thismore than 2020-01-20
star this property answer text <p>Our latest data shows the proportion of new Universal Credit claims paid in full on time was 88.4%. In many cases where full payment is not made on time, it is due to unresolved issues such as: claimants not accepting their Claimant Commitment or passing identity checks, or having outstanding verification issues, such as housing costs and self-employed earnings.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The latest available information on payments made in full and on time to Universal Credit claimants 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> </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><strong> </strong></p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Colchester more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Will Quince more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2020-01-20T14:16:58.467Zmore like thismore than 2020-01-20T14:16:58.467Z
star this property answering member
4423
star this property label Biography information for Will Quince more like this
star this property tabling member
4463
star this property label Biography information for Chris Stephens more like this
1172106
unstar this property registered interest true more like this
star this property date less than 2020-01-20more like thismore than 2020-01-20
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of children living in households where claimants have had deductions made to their monthly universal credit payments in the latest period for which figures are available. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Glasgow South West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Chris Stephens more like this
star this property uin 5463 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2020-01-28more like thismore than 2020-01-28
star this property answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Colchester more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Will Quince more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2020-01-28T11:17:12.903Zmore like thismore than 2020-01-28T11:17:12.903Z
star this property answering member
4423
star this property label Biography information for Will Quince more like this
star this property tabling member
4463
star this property label Biography information for Chris Stephens more like this
1172107
unstar this property registered interest true more like this
star this property date less than 2020-01-20more like thismore than 2020-01-20
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of universal credit claimants who have had a (a) waiver and (b) reduction in deductions to their monthly payments on the grounds of hardship in the latest period for which figures are available. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Glasgow South West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Chris Stephens more like this
star this property uin 5464 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2020-01-23more like thismore than 2020-01-23
star this property answer text <p>The Department has an obligation to ensure that public funds are administered responsibly and to abide by the principles set out in Her Majesty’s Treasury’s guidance on Managing Public Money. Waiver applications have to be considered in line with this guidance. Debts can only be waived if recovery is causing substantial medical and/or financial hardship to a claimant or their immediate family.</p><p> </p><p>In 2019/20 (up to 31<sup>st</sup> December 2019), there were 10 Universal Credit claimants who had their debts waived.</p><p> </p><p>We understand the impact that debt can have on the wellbeing of claimants and we endeavour to ensure that the recovery of any overpayment is managed in a way that takes account of the claimant’s individual circumstances. Where a person says they cannot afford the proposed rate of recovery, a reduction in their rate of repayment may be agreed.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In 2019/20 (up to 31<sup>st</sup> December 2019), 159,000 Universal Credit claimants had the rate at which they were repaying a benefit overpayment reduced.</p><p> </p><p><em>*The figures provided in this response have been sourced from internal management information and were not intended for public release. They should therefore not be compared to any other similar figures subsequently released by the Department. The figure relating to the number of debts waived has been rounded to the nearest 10, and the figure relating to reductions in repayment rates has been rounded to the nearest 1,000. It is important to note that debts waived may not all relate to Universal Credit.</em></p>
star this property answering member constituency Colchester more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Will Quince more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2020-01-23T16:30:45.273Zmore like thismore than 2020-01-23T16:30:45.273Z
star this property answering member
4423
star this property label Biography information for Will Quince more like this
star this property tabling member
4463
star this property label Biography information for Chris Stephens more like this
1172108
unstar this property registered interest true more like this
star this property date less than 2020-01-20more like thismore than 2020-01-20
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit remove filter
unstar this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the value of deductions to universal credit payments under each reason for deduction in the latest period for which figures are available. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Glasgow South West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Chris Stephens more like this
star this property uin 5465 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2020-01-27more like thismore than 2020-01-27
star this property answer text <p>The Department’s deductions policy strikes a fair balance between a claimant’s need to meet their obligations and their ability to ensure they can meet their day-to-day needs. From October 2019, Universal Credit deductions have been reduced to 30% of a claimant’s standard allowance down from 40% to better achieve these objectives.</p><p> </p><p>In the latest period for which figures are available (August 2019), £1.3 billion of Universal Credit was paid, of which £94 million (7%) was deducted. The table below provides a breakdown of the deductions by reason.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Deduction reason</p></td><td><p>Value of Deductions (£)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>UC advance repayments</p></td><td><p>50,252,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Tax Credit overpayments</p></td><td><p>14,295,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>DWP overpayments</p></td><td><p>8,042,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Social fund loans</p></td><td><p>5,466,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Arrears of rent and/or service charges</p></td><td><p>5,001,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Fines</p></td><td><p>4,931,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>HB overpayments</p></td><td><p>1,771,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Arrears of Community Charge or Council Tax</p></td><td><p>1,285,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>UC Recoverable Hardship payments</p></td><td><p>843,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>DWP Fraud overpayments</p></td><td><p>742,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Fuel and Water Ongoing consumption</p></td><td><p>615,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Child maintenance</p></td><td><p>527,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Arrears of water charges</p></td><td><p>273,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>HB and DWP Civil Penalties</p></td><td><p>121,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>HB Fraud overpayments</p></td><td><p>113,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>HB and DWP Administrative Penalties</p></td><td><p>76,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Arrears of fuel (electric and gas)</p></td><td><p>67,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Arrears of Eligible loans</p></td><td><p>51,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Arrears of Integration loans</p></td><td><p>44,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Tax Credit Fraud overpayments</p></td><td><p>1,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mortgage interest</p></td><td><p>less than 500</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p>1. Values of deductions in the table are rounded to the nearest thousand. The total value of all deductions and the amount of universal credit paid is rounded to the nearest £1,000,000.</p><p>2. Deductions include advance repayments, third party deductions and all other deductions, but exclude sanctions and fraud penalties which are reductions of benefit rather than deductions.</p><p>3. Amount of Universal Credit paid reflects the amount of money paid to claimants and their landlords as part of their award, including the amount which they would have been entitled to had it not been deducted. It does not include other payments such as advances and hardship payments.</p><p>4. Figures are provisional and are subject to retrospective change as later data becomes available.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Colchester more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Will Quince more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2020-01-27T18:05:44.17Zmore like thismore than 2020-01-27T18:05:44.17Z
star this property answering member
4423
star this property label Biography information for Will Quince more like this
star this property previous answer version
2667
star this property answering member constituency Colchester more like this
star this property answering member printed Will Quince more like this
star this property answering member
4423
star this property label Biography information for Will Quince more like this
star this property tabling member
4463
star this property label Biography information for Chris Stephens more like this