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1124966

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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
	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 (a) accuracy and (b) clarity of the universal credit payment statements provided to claimants.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	251202
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit (UC) has been designed with accessibility and accuracy in mind and we are committed to providing personalised support for all claimants. Most people claiming UC will be able to access and navigate the internet, to make and maintain their UC account.</p><p> </p><p>The Department delivers UC in a way which responds to the needs of those who are supported by it. UC payment statements have been designed to give claimants a relevant breakdown of their award, including details of any outstanding debt and the reason for deductions. Every UC award is calculated based on the circumstances of individuals during each assessment period, taking into account savings, assets and income.</p><p> </p><p>Further enhancements will be introduced in the future to make UC payment statements even easier to understand, with a particular focus on making it clearer when amounts are deducted and whether people are being paid as a single person or as part of a couple. Claimants will be able to access a ‘blank’ statement, available through their online account as soon as their claim is received, allowing them to view expected entitlements based on what information has been submitted.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 251203 question first answered 13/05/2019 16:16:19 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1124967

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to increase the (a) accuracy and (b) clarity of the universal credit payment statements provided to claimants.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	251203
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit (UC) has been designed with accessibility and accuracy in mind and we are committed to providing personalised support for all claimants. Most people claiming UC will be able to access and navigate the internet, to make and maintain their UC account.</p><p> </p><p>The Department delivers UC in a way which responds to the needs of those who are supported by it. UC payment statements have been designed to give claimants a relevant breakdown of their award, including details of any outstanding debt and the reason for deductions. Every UC award is calculated based on the circumstances of individuals during each assessment period, taking into account savings, assets and income.</p><p> </p><p>Further enhancements will be introduced in the future to make UC payment statements even easier to understand, with a particular focus on making it clearer when amounts are deducted and whether people are being paid as a single person or as part of a couple. Claimants will be able to access a ‘blank’ statement, available through their online account as soon as their claim is received, allowing them to view expected entitlements based on what information has been submitted.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 251202 question first answered 13/05/2019 16:16:19 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1124968

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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: 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 she has made of whether the information provided to universal credit claimants, who request reasons for a decision, meets the statutory requirements that it should (a) be adequate to allow a challenge to the decision, if appropriate and (b) inform claimants of their right to challenge the decision.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	251204
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>The decision notice sent to the claimant explains not only their dispute rights but also that they can request a statement of reasons for the decision made. That will not only be a comprehensive explanation for the decision, as required in law, but it will also remind the claimant of their dispute rights, including the time limit for making any dispute.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 13/05/2019 16:28:31 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1124969

	registered interest
	date	07/05/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to give staff who advise universal credit claimants access to benefit calculations to enable them to provide better support.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	251205
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/05/2019 answer text <p>Claimants and Jobcentre staff can access benefit calculators via the gov.uk website. This includes links to three independent calculators and advice on the type of information required to complete a calculation.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/benefits-calculators</a></p><p> </p><p>The independent benefits calculators we endorse are intended to provide useful estimations of what people can get in certain circumstances, based on what information is entered on the calculators themselves. This is to allow people to safely explore what help they may receive from Universal Credit before they apply, or based on potential changes of circumstances.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 13/05/2019 16:22:27 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1124571

	registered interest
	date	02/05/2019
	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
	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 1 May 2019 to Question 247977 on Universal Credit, what assessment he has made of what type of interactions with social media would help to increase awareness and understanding of universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	250424
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/05/2019 answer text <p>The Department makes use of social media to increase understanding and awareness of Universal Credit in several ways. The opening up work campaign aims to increase awareness and understanding of Universal Credit and help people navigate the new claim process by signposting people to the Understanding Universal Credit website. The campaign uses a range of paid digital channels including Facebook to reach people with Universal Credit information. We also provide information in video format and regularly post Universal Credit information across DWP Corporate Twitter accounts. Content is shared on our local Jobcentre Plus accounts and we also use these accounts to respond to general enquiries about Universal Credit and signpost to additional information.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 09/05/2019 15:10:42 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1124262

	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	Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that people who are digitally excluded are not missing out on benefits to which they are entitled.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	249804
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <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>However, for those that are still unable to access or use digital services, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline. Face-to-face support is also available in Jobcentres. In exceptional circumstances, a home visit can be arranged to support a claimant in making and maintaining their claim.</p><p>From 1 April 2019 Citizens Advice (England and Wales) and Citizens Advice Scotland are delivering the new ‘Help to Claim’ support to claimants making a new Universal Credit (UC) claim or moving from a legacy benefit to UC because of a change of circumstances. The Citizens Advice Help to Claim offers tailored, practical support to help people make a UC claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time. It is available online, through web-chat, through a Freephone number and face to face through local Citizens Advice services.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 08/05/2019 17:09:36 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1124266

	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	Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the amount of (a) jobseeker’s allowance, (b) universal credit, (c) personal independence payment and (d) disability living allowance to which claimants were entitled but did not claim in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	249805
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>There are £2.4 billion of unclaimed legacy benefits not going to the people who need them, because they do not know that they are entitled to them or how to claim. Universal Credit makes sure that welfare payments reach those who need them most.</p><p> </p><p>The information requested is not held by the Department for Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance.</p><p> </p><p>The Department holds information on the amount of Jobseeker’s Allowance that claimants were entitled to but did not claim for the years 2009-2016. More recent data is not held.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Estimated amount of unclaimed JSA</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Millions of Pounds</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009/10</p></td><td><p>1,380</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>1,850</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013/14</p></td><td><p>1,550</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014/15</p></td><td><p>1,510</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>1,380</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Notes</p><ul><li>Amounts are shown in nominal terms (not adjusted for inflation)</li><li>The figures in the brackets give the 95 per cent confidence intervals. This range around the central take-up estimate is calculated to show, with 95 per cent probability, the range within which the true value of take-up lies. This assumes that there is no non-sampling error such as incorrect reporting of amounts or under-coverage of the range of respondents.</li><li>This information can be accessed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up-financial-year-201516" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up-financial-year-201516</a></li></ul><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 08/05/2019 17:12:08 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1124269

	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	Social Security Benefits: Children
	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 has taken to make prospective parents aware of the two child limit on entitlement to tax credits and the child element of universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	249807
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit claimants were alerted to the policy changes announced by the Government in the Summer Budget 2015 and by communication on GOV.UK in August 2016.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC, who currently have the majority of claims from those with more than two children, also provided information about this change in leaflets which went to all claimants renewing their Child Tax Credits claim in Summer 2016 and Summer 2017.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 08/05/2019 17:07:44 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1123936

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2019
	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 has plans to include an income assessment form in the application for advance payments for universal credit; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	249177
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>Introducing an income assessment could cause delay to Universal Credit (UC) new claim advances, the purpose of which is to provide fast access to a payment for people in financial need until their first UC payment’s due.</p><p> </p><p>The Department will increase the maximum recovery period for advances on new claims from 12 months to 16 months from October 2021. If an unforeseen event occurs that would result in hardship once recovery begins, in certain circumstances, repayments can be deferred for up to 3 months.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 07/05/2019 14:32:55 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1123937

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2019
	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 estimate she has made of the value of advanced payments that will be paid to claimants of universal credit in 2019.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	249178
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit (UC) new claim advances provide fast access to a payment for people in financial need until their first UC payment is due. Assistance of up to 100% of the total expected monthly award, which is paid back over a period of up to 12 months, and from October 2021 up to 16 months, is available.</p><p> </p><p>The estimated value of advanced payments that were paid to Universal Credit (UC) claimants for new claims and benefits transfers in the financial year 2018/2019 is £502m (<strong>source:</strong> DWP internal statistics).</p><p> </p><p>The projected value of advanced payments that will be paid to claimants of UC for new claims and benefits transfers in each of the next five years is £676m in 2019/2020 rising to £862m in 2023/2024. This projection is line with the expected increase in UC claims.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Projected Advances Spend (£m)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019/2020</p></td><td><p>£676</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020/2021</p></td><td><p>£682</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021/2022</p></td><td><p>£678</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2022/2023</p></td><td><p>£766</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2023/2024</p></td><td><p>£862</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Source:</strong> DWP internal modelling of advances.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes: </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><ol><li>The data supplied is derived from unpublished management information which was collected for internal Departmental use only and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. The data should therefore be treated with caution.</li><li>Figures have been rounded to the nearest £million.</li></ol> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 249179 question first answered 07/05/2019 14:51:38 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms