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1258704

	registered interest
	date	07/12/2020
	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	Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus
	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 feasibility of restarting face-to-face work capability assessments; and what plans her Department has to expedite the backlog of cases waiting for assessment.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Aaron Bell
	uin	126162
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2020 answer text <p>The health and safety of our claimants and staff is our key priority. We suspended all face-to-face assessments for sickness and disability benefits in March. This temporary suspension, brought in to protect people from unnecessary risk of coronavirus at the outset of the pandemic, remains in place, and is being kept under review in line with the latest public health guidance. Any re-introduction of face-to-face assessments would involve additional Covid-related safety measures, and guidance for claimants and assessment providers to ensure compliance with the relevant public health guidance.</p><p> </p><p>Throughout the pandemic our immediate focus has been on supporting people impacted by COVID-19 by putting claims into payment as quickly as possible, as well as paying any additional benefit where claimants may be entitled to a higher award. We continue to complete paper based assessments where possible and have introduced telephone assessments.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 14/12/2020 18:11:54 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4837 label Biography information for Aaron Bell

1216232

	registered interest
	date	22/06/2020
	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	Disability: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with representatives from disabled people on the easing of covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	uin	62686
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting disabled people affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. We continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on disabled people using existing and new data sources.</p><p> </p><p>The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work has had discussions with charities, disabled people's organisations and individuals to understand the range of experiences disabled people have had during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the support needed as lockdown restrictions are eased.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is ensuring that disabled people continue to have access to accessible communications, updated guidance, including workplace and transport related guidance, as well as other support during the Covid-19 outbreak. All equality and discrimination laws and obligations continue to apply during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>The Cabinet Office Disability Unit continues to work with disability stakeholders and across Government Departments to ensure that the needs of disabled people are considered in the UK Government’s response to COVID-19.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 62685 question first answered 30/06/2020 15:25:00 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1216234

	registered interest
	date	22/06/2020
	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, for what reason employment and support allowance was not increased in line with the uplift in universal credit in March 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	uin	62688
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government has announced a suite of measures that can be quickly and effectively operationalised to benefit those facing the most financial disruption during the pandemic. The Department was experiencing significantly increased demand and had to prioritise the safety and stability of the benefits system overall. The IT system which supports Universal Credit has more capacity to make the necessary changes than the systems that support legacy benefits. It also uses different technology from other DWP systems and these older systems have complex interactions and interdependencies. We estimate that 2.5m households receiving Universal Credit will have benefited straight away from the increase in the standard allowances which was announced on 20 March, and which is additional to the planned annual uprating. New claimants who have either become unemployed, or whose earnings or work hours have decreased because of the outbreak, will benefit too; subject to their eligibility.</p><p><em> </em></p><p>We have also made a number of changes to legacy and other working age benefits in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including increasing certain entitlements, such as Local Housing Allowance. Up-to-date information about the employment and benefits support available, including Employment and Support Allowance, can be found here: <a href="https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/employment-and-benefits-support/" target="_blank">https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/employment-and-benefits-support/</a></p><p> </p><p>Taken together, DWP’s pandemic measures represent an injection of over £6.5 billion into the welfare system and, along with the other job and business support programmes announced by the Chancellor, represent one of the most comprehensive packages of support introduced by an advanced economy in response to COVID19.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 30/06/2020 15:29:13 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1235207

	registered interest
	date	16/09/2020
	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	Statutory Sick Pay: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance her Department is providing to people with covid-19 symptoms who are required to self-isolate and do not qualify for statutory sick pay in (a) Erith and Thamesmead constituency and (b) England.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	uin	91170
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2020 answer text <p>The guidance given to customers is dependent on their own personal circumstances. They will be signposted to the most relevant benefit.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 21/09/2020 12:42:02 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1240323

	registered interest
	date	05/10/2020
	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	Foster Care: Coronavirus
	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 potential merits of providing statutory sick pay to foster carers during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	uin	99146
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2020 answer text <p>Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) provides a minimum level of income for employees when they are off work sick, or deemed incapable of work. It is paid in full by employers. To receive SSP from their employer, individuals must meet all SSP eligibility conditions, including being classed as an employee.</p><p> </p><p>SSP is just one part of the government’s safety net and the support to people in times of need during the pandemic. Where an individual’s income is reduced while off work sick or self-isolating, for example where they are not eligible for SSP, and they require further financial support they may be able to claim Universal Credit and new style Employment and Support Allowance, depending on individual circumstances. Working people on low incomes who are required to remain at home by NHS Test and Trace to help stop the spread of the virus and cannot work from home can also now receive £500.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Background</strong></p><ul><li>SSP is paid at a flat rate of £95.85 per week to eligible employees.</li><li>We have already strengthened our wider safety net by temporarily increasing the standard allowance of Universal Credit by the equivalent of £20 per week, meaning that claimants will be up to £1,040 better off for the 20/21 tax year.</li></ul> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 07/10/2020 13:51:44 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1248321

	registered interest
	date	03/11/2020
	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: Coronavirus
	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 provide financial assistance to clinically vulnerable people in the event that their place of work remains open but they are unable to attend that place work as a result of health concerns during the period of new national covid-19 lockdown from 5 November 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	uin	110926
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2020 answer text <p>BEIS Safer Workplaces guidance advises that workers who can work effectively from home should do so over the winter. If an individual cannot work from home, clinically vulnerable individuals can still attend their workplace as their workplace should be COVID-secure. Employers are required to take steps to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 in the workplace.</p><p> </p><p>Those who are clinically extremely vulnerable will previously have received a letter from the NHS or their GP informing them of this and may have been advised to shield in the past. Individuals who receive a notification that they need to shield should not go in to work if they are unable to work from home.</p><p> </p><p>Employees who are clinically extremely vulnerable can be furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and remain eligible for New Style Employment and Support Allowance, subject to the wider eligibility criteria. Where they are not furloughed, and they cannot work from home, they may be eligible for Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from their employer.</p><p> </p><p>Where an individual’s income is reduced while off work sick and they require further financial support, they may be able to receive Universal Credit, depending on their personal circumstances.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 09/11/2020 15:51:47 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1221220

	registered interest
	date	06/07/2020
	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	Statutory Sick Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of increasing the rate of statutory sick pay.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	69670
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/07/2020 answer text <p>This Government has a strong safety net that helps people who are facing hardship and are unable to support themselves financially. Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) provides a minimum level of income for employees when they are off work sick. It is paid in full by employers who may also decide to pay more than the statutory minimum through Occupational Sick Pay. SSP is just part of our welfare safety net and our wider government offer to support people in times of need.</p><p> </p><p>Where an individual’s income is reduced while off work sick and they require further financial support, they may be able to claim Universal Credit and new style Employment and Support Allowance, depending on their personal circumstances. Many of those on low incomes are already in receipt of benefits. For those on Universal Credit, their award will rise if their income falls.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 14/07/2020 13:03:17 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1236059

	registered interest
	date	21/09/2020
	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	Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit: Medical Examinations
	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 resume face-to-face medical assessments for Industrial Injuries' Disablement Benefit.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	92880
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/09/2020 answer text <p>Our priority throughout this health emergency continues to be to protect the public and our assessment providers’ staff, while ensuring people get the benefits they are entitled to quickly and safely. Face-to-face assessments remain suspended while we review what activity we can gradually start reintroducing in line with the latest public health advice. We will confirm next steps as soon as possible.</p><p> </p><p>In the meantime, for claimants with the most serious or terminal conditions, claims continue to be processed and decisions made as normal. We are actively considering how to deal with those cases not currently being processed.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 92881 question first answered 29/09/2020 12:12:01 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1236060

	registered interest
	date	21/09/2020
	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	Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit: Asbestosis and Diffuse Pleural Thickening
	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 resume assessing Industrial Injuries' Disablement Benefit claims for (a) asbestosis and (b) diffuse pleural thickening.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	92881
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/09/2020 answer text <p>Our priority throughout this health emergency continues to be to protect the public and our assessment providers’ staff, while ensuring people get the benefits they are entitled to quickly and safely. Face-to-face assessments remain suspended while we review what activity we can gradually start reintroducing in line with the latest public health advice. We will confirm next steps as soon as possible.</p><p> </p><p>In the meantime, for claimants with the most serious or terminal conditions, claims continue to be processed and decisions made as normal. We are actively considering how to deal with those cases not currently being processed.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 92880 question first answered 29/09/2020 12:12:01 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan

1277157

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2021
	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: Email
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the cost of setting up an email channel for the public to contact her Department in respect of personal independence payment appeals.
	tabling member constituency	Manchester, Gorton
	tabling member printed	Afzal Khan
	uin	138509
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2021 answer text <p>Once a customer has submitted an appeal to Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) the customer engages with HMCTS from this point to provide information and evidence relevant to their PIP appeal. In most PIP appeal cases, additional evidence provided is then digitally shared with DWP as a party to the appeal, therefore an email address is not necessary.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 21/01/2021 16:04:47 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4671 label Biography information for Afzal Khan