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1058635

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2019
	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	Social Security Benefits: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	Whether her Department has plans to redesign the reassessment process for benefit recipients with severe mental or physical disabilities.
	tabling member constituency	Romford
	tabling member printed	Andrew Rosindell
	uin	909127
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2019 answer text <p>We are committed to assessing people with health conditions and disabilities fairly and accurately, and helping people to access the right support. We made a clear commitment in <em>Improving Lives</em>: <em>The Future of Work, Health and Disability</em> to reform the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) and recognise the importance of getting this right. We are therefore testing new approaches to build the evidence base for what works, and working with external stakeholders to inform future changes to the WCA.</p><p> </p><p>Over the last year we have introduced new guidance into Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit (UC), as well as updated guidance for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to improve the service we provide for those with the most severe/lifelong conditions. For ESA/UC since September 2017 we have switched off routine reassessments for those who meet the Severe Conditions criteria, and since August 2018, those receiving the highest level of support in PIP, whose needs are unlikely to change or may get worse, will now receive an ongoing award with a light touch review at the ten year point.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 11/02/2019 17:02:14 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	1447 label Biography information for Andrew Rosindell

1058636

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2019
	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	Social Security Benefits: Medical Examinations
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What recent assessment her Department has made of the (a) accuracy and (b) efficiency of contracted-out health assessments for (i) employment and support allowance and (ii) personal independence payment.
	tabling member constituency	Ellesmere Port and Neston
	tabling member printed	Justin Madders
	uin	909128
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2019 answer text <p>We are committed to ensuring claimants receive high quality assessments. Providers are closely monitored against a range of measures including through independent audit to improve accuracy and decision making. We are seeing continuous improvement in PIP assessment quality and recent data shows both PIP providers meeting quality expectations. We continually look to improve the efficiency of the assessment process by working closely with health assessment providers and the disabled people the Department supports.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 11/02/2019 16:37:48 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4418 label Biography information for Justin Madders

1058637

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2019
	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	Pensioners: Poverty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	What recent assessment she has made of trends in the level of pensioner poverty; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	909129
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2019 answer text <p>This Government has seen the absolute poverty rate for pensioners fall to record lows, with over 200,000 fewer pensioners in absolute poverty before housing costs. Rates of material deprivation for pensioners are also at record lows.</p><p>We have reduced pensioner poverty close to historically low levels, lifting the incomes of millions of older people. Since 2009/10, material deprivation for pensioners has fallen from 10 per cent to 7 per cent in 2016/17 and since 2010 there are 200,000 fewer pensioners in absolute poverty, a record low.</p><p>The Government is committed to action that helps to alleviate levels of pensioner poverty. In 2018/19 we will spend £121.5 billion on benefits for pensioners, including £97 billion on the State Pension for this year.</p><p>The Government has also committed to up-rating the basic State Pension by the highest of the growth in earnings, prices or 2.5 per cent - the 'triple lock' guarantee. This will mean that the full basic State Pension will be around £1450 per year higher in 2018/19 than in 2010. The Government has committed to the triple lock for the remainder of this Parliament.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 11/02/2019 17:58:24 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1057009

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2019
	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 Jobcentres provide advice to universal credit applicants who start but do not complete an application; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	218739
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2019 answer text <p>Most people claiming Universal Credit will be able to access and navigate the internet, to make and maintain their Universal Credit account. Our published Universal Credit Claimant Survey found that 98 per cent of claimants did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be straightforward.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit has been designed with accessibility in mind and we are committed to providing personalised support for all claimants. Where a claimant requires assistance to complete the initial application process support is available via the Universal Credit helpline, face to face in the Jobcentre or in exceptional circumstances through a home visit.</p><p> </p><p>If a claimant needs more intensive or specific support to make their claim, face-to-face and other help is available through our current Universal Support Assisted Digital Service offer, which provides bespoke help, support and skills for claimants to make and maintain their digital account online. Since 2017, Universal Support has been delivered by individual local authorities, funded by grants from DWP.</p><p> </p><p>From 1 April 2019 Citizens Advice (England and Wales) and Citizens Advice Scotland will deliver a new “Help to Claim” service to support vulnerable claimants through the process of making a claim to Universal Credit, and managing their money afterwards.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 218741 question first answered 13/02/2019 17:36:41 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1057010

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2019
	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, what assessment she has made of the reasons for refusals of applications for universal credit in the last twelve months.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	218740
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2019 answer text <p>Based on our internal data for August 2018, in total 28 per cent of claims did not complete the process.</p><p> </p><p>Of this figure around 9 per cent of claims* were closed due to non-entitlement, for example because of capital or not passing the Habitual Residence Test. The remainder (around 18 per cent**) were closed due to non-compliance with the process, for example failure to sign a Claimant Commitment and failing to provide evidence to support their claim.</p><p> </p><p>* due to recent methodological changes in calculating reasons for claims closing the percentages provided here may not match to those provided previously.</p><p> </p><p>**percentages do not add up to 28 per cent owing to rounding.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 13/02/2019 17:49:17 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1057011

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2019
	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, pursuant to the Answer of 4 February 2019 to Question 214626 on universal credit, of the 18 per cent of claims for universal credit which were not completed due to non-compliance with the process, what support her Department offered to those applicants (a) during and (b) after the application process.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	218741
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2019 answer text <p>Most people claiming Universal Credit will be able to access and navigate the internet, to make and maintain their Universal Credit account. Our published Universal Credit Claimant Survey found that 98 per cent of claimants did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be straightforward.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit has been designed with accessibility in mind and we are committed to providing personalised support for all claimants. Where a claimant requires assistance to complete the initial application process support is available via the Universal Credit helpline, face to face in the Jobcentre or in exceptional circumstances through a home visit.</p><p> </p><p>If a claimant needs more intensive or specific support to make their claim, face-to-face and other help is available through our current Universal Support Assisted Digital Service offer, which provides bespoke help, support and skills for claimants to make and maintain their digital account online. Since 2017, Universal Support has been delivered by individual local authorities, funded by grants from DWP.</p><p> </p><p>From 1 April 2019 Citizens Advice (England and Wales) and Citizens Advice Scotland will deliver a new “Help to Claim” service to support vulnerable claimants through the process of making a claim to Universal Credit, and managing their money afterwards.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 218739 question first answered 13/02/2019 17:36:41 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1057012

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2019
	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 claims for universal credit have been refused as a result of the applicant not having a fixed address.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	218742
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2019 answer text <p>A claim to Universal Credit can still be made if a claimant does not have a permanent address, so this would not be a reason for a refusal.</p><p> </p><p>Where a claimant does not have sufficient documentary evidence to verify their identity, DWP follows a process known as a biographical security check, whereby the claimant is asked a series of security questions to validate their identity. Should the claimant fail the biographical security check, as an additional safeguard we can approach a third party to validate the claimant’s identity (subject to the claimant giving their consent).</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 13/02/2019 17:44:29 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1057051

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2019
	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	Personal Independence Payment: 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 the waiting time from registration for personal independence payment to appeal was in (a) Wallasey, (b) Merseyside and (c) the North West in the most recent period for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Wallasey
	tabling member printed	Ms Angela Eagle
	uin	218761
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2019 answer text <p>Information on the waiting time from registration of a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claim to appeal in Wallasey, Merseyside and the North West could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 13/02/2019 15:05:21 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	491 label Biography information for Dame Angela Eagle

1057082

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2019
	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	Independent Case Examiner
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to improve the performance of the Independent Case Examiner.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	218827
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2019 answer text <p>During 2017/18, the Independent Case Examiner’s Office received high levels of demand.</p><p>In the 2018/19 reporting year, the Office received funding for thirteen additional staff and productivity increased. By the end of January 2019 the Office had cleared 1,047 complaints, compared to 782 at the end of January 2018.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 13/02/2019 12:31:56 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1056654

	registered interest
	date	07/02/2019
	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	Hearing Impaired
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the provision of deaf support services to (a) constituents in West Lancashire and (b) people throughout Lancashire by (i) Lancashire County Council, (ii) the NHS, (iii) courts, (iv) local authorities and (v) other public agencies.
	tabling member constituency	West Lancashire
	tabling member printed	Rosie Cooper
	uin	218235
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/02/2019 answer text <p>It is for each Government department and public authority to make adequate provision for deaf support services. Disability in the UK is mainstreamed. This means that whilst I promote disability issues across government, every department is ultimately responsible for considering disability in the development and implementation of its policies and services.</p><p> </p><p>For services provided by the Department for Work and Pensions to customers who are deaf or have hearing loss, we provide the following services:</p><ul><li>Interpretation services such as BSL</li><li>Video Relay Service for BSL users claiming certain benefits</li><li>Videos with BSL translations on certain topics</li><li>Textphone services for customers unable to contact the Department by phone</li><li>Next Generation Text for which users require access to a smart device</li><li>Email as a reasonable adjustment to replace other communication methods</li></ul> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 12/02/2019 16:54:02 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	1538 label Biography information for Rosie Cooper