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1002030
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2018-11-05more like thismore than 2018-11-05
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: Scotland 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, with reference to the Government news release of 1 October 2018 entitled Citizens Advice to provide support to Universal Credit claimants, how much funding she plans to allocate to Citizens Advice in Scotland to provide that support; and what plans she has to provide funding for areas that do not have a Citizens Advice office. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Inverclyde more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Ronnie Cowan more like this
star this property uin 188154 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2018-11-16more like thismore than 2018-11-16
star this property answer text <p>For Citizens Advice Scotland the grant award is £1,323,412 in 2018/19 and £4,085,919 in 2019/20. Citizens Advice Scotland is committed to providing a Universal Support service across Scotland</p> more like this
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 question first answered
less than 2018-11-16T14:42:10.867Zmore like thismore than 2018-11-16T14:42:10.867Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4465
unstar this property label Biography information for Ronnie Cowan more like this
1060754
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-02-13more like thismore than 2019-02-13
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: Scotland 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 her Department has made of the effect of the roll-out of universal credit in Scotland on provision of services for lone parents and disadvantaged families by (a) local authorities and (b) third sector organisations. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Lesley Laird more like this
star this property uin 221025 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-02-21more like thismore than 2019-02-21
star this property answer text <p>We have not made an assessment of the effect of the roll-out of universal credit in Scotland on provision of services for lone parents and disadvantage families by Local Authorities and third party sector organisations.</p><p>We are committed to helping parents into work. Childcare is essential in enabling parents to work, although we recognise that this can cause additional financial difficulty.</p><p>Universal Credit claimants are able to claim up to 85 per cent of their childcare costs, compared to 70 per cent on the legacy system. People with an offer of paid work can also get childcare costs paid a month in advance.</p><p>On 11 January 2019, Secretary of State Rt. Hon Amber Rudd MP announced measures that will provide increased support for Universal Credit (UC) claimants. This included piloting a more flexible approach to claimants reporting childcare costs, which will allow people to be reimbursed for childcare even when they aren’t able to provide immediate evidence.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
star this property answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-02-21T14:07:46.323Zmore like thismore than 2019-02-21T14:07:46.323Z
star this property answering member
4105
star this property label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
star this property tabling member
4660
unstar this property label Biography information for Lesley Laird more like this
1105936
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-03-28more like thismore than 2019-03-28
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: Scotland 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 people in receipt of universal credit in Scotland have a mental health condition. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Airdrie and Shotts more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Neil Gray more like this
star this property uin 238368 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-04-04more like thismore than 2019-04-04
star this property answer text <p>Currently we do not report aggregate information about whether or not a claimant has a mental health condition and to collate and quality assure this information would incur disproportionate costs.</p><p> </p><p>Our work coaches receive training to ensure they can offer effective support to different claimant groups. This enables them to provide tailored support and gain an excellent understanding of whether their claimants have, have had in the past, or might cycle in and out of having a mental health condition or extra support needs.</p> more like this
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 question first answered
less than 2019-04-04T15:49:43.293Zmore like thismore than 2019-04-04T15:49:43.293Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4365
unstar this property label Biography information for Neil Gray more like this
1105937
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-03-28more like thismore than 2019-03-28
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: Scotland 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 mental health training is provided to work coaches; and how many work coaches in Scotland have received mental health training to date. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Airdrie and Shotts more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Neil Gray more like this
star this property uin 238369 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-04-04more like thismore than 2019-04-04
star this property answer text <p>DWP is committed to providing the best possible support for all our claimants, including the most vulnerable in society. We are continuously reviewing and improving the service for vulnerable people to ensure that it is accessible and responsive to their needs.</p><p> </p><p>Work Coaches undergo a comprehensive training programme designed to equip them with the skills and knowledge required to provide a high quality service to all claimants. Specific training and guidance is provided for working with different vulnerable groups and those with complex needs including claimants with mental health conditions.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, Work Coaches have completed a two-day workshop, designed by experts in mental health and psychologists, and delivered where possible alongside external mental health partners. The training began in November 2017 and was completed at the end of March 2019. April 2019 will see the start of delivering this training to staff across the entire organisation who are employed in a claimant facing role, whether they engage with claimants by telephone, face to face or digitally.</p><p> </p><p>At the end of March 2019 all 1589 Work Coaches in Scotland had received Mental Health Training.</p><p> </p><p>* 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</p>
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 question first answered
less than 2019-04-04T16:37:06.58Zmore like thismore than 2019-04-04T16:37:06.58Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4365
unstar this property label Biography information for Neil Gray more like this
1130982
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-06-10more like thismore than 2019-06-10
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: Scotland 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 has made an assessment of the effect of universal credit on the level of rent arrears owed to Scottish local authorities; and if she will make a statement. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Hugh Gaffney more like this
star this property uin 262433 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-06-18more like thismore than 2019-06-18
star this property answer text <p>The Department has not made an assessment of this nature.</p><p> </p><p>Caution should be exercised when considering any assessment of arrears derived from local authority level data which seeks to compare the legacy and Universal Credit welfare systems. This is because they do not compare groups with the same characteristics; typically, the legacy benefit group have been on benefits for some time, where the arrears may be under long-term management. The Universal Credit group, on the other hand, are often new to benefits, and are likely to have experienced a change in their circumstances – for example, a debt-creating event like losing a job or separation. Any arrears for this group will not have been under management and had time to clear.</p><p> </p><p>The initial analytical work we have carried out with a housing provider suggests that many tenants are arriving on Universal Credit with pre-existing rent arrears, that their arrears tend to increase prior to making a claim for Universal Credit, and that Universal Credit actually appears to be helping to clear arrears over time. We are currently extending this analysis to include a number of other housing providers. It will be published when completed. Furthermore, according to latest figures in November 2018 about 8 per cent of social rented households were on Universal Credit; therefore, it is difficult to see how a national trend can be attributed to Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>We have, however, responded to concerns in this area by putting a number of safeguards in place, such as 100% advances repayable over 12 months, increasing to 16 months in October 2021; a two-week Transition to Universal Credit Housing Payment; a new Help to Claim service to assist people to make their claim more easily; and Managed Payment to Landlord Arrangements, which allow for payments direct to the landlord if the tenant is likely to have difficulty in managing their rent payments, is unlikely to pay their rent or is in rent arrears equivalent to two months.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, in Scotland, the Department delivers Universal Credit Scottish choices on behalf of the Scottish Government, providing the option of Universal Credit being paid twice a month rather than monthly, and having Universal Credit housing element being paid directly to landlords.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Colchester more like this
star this property answering member printed Will Quince more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-18T15:28:46.223Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-18T15:28:46.223Z
star this property answering member
4423
star this property label Biography information for Will Quince more like this
star this property tabling member
4614
unstar this property label Biography information for Hugh Gaffney more like this
1147829
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-10-02more like thismore than 2019-10-02
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: Scotland 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 recent assessment she has made of the effect of the time taken for universal credit payments to be made to claimants on trends in the level of food bank use in Scotland. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Hugh Gaffney more like this
star this property uin 293692 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-10-08more like thismore than 2019-10-08
star this property answer text <p>The Department does not keep official statistics on food bank use, so no such assessment has been completed. Some food aid providers produce statistics on the number of food parcels distributed, but the Government has no plans to require individual food banks to keep records as this would place a significant burden on charitable and voluntary organisations.</p><p> </p><p>We have listened to feedback on how we can improve Universal Credit to support our claimants and acted quickly, making improvements such as extending advances, removing waiting days, and introducing housing benefit run on. These changes are giving support to vulnerable people who need it most, whilst at the same time helping people get into work faster.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, in Scotland, the Department delivers Universal Credit Scottish choices on behalf of the Scottish Government, providing the option of Universal Credit being paid twice a month rather than monthly, and having Universal Credit housing element being paid directly to landlords.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p>
star this property answering member constituency Colchester more like this
star this property answering member printed Will Quince more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-10-08T10:07:32.15Zmore like thismore than 2019-10-08T10:07:32.15Z
star this property answering member
4423
star this property label Biography information for Will Quince more like this
star this property tabling member
4614
unstar this property label Biography information for Hugh Gaffney more like this
1172526
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2020-01-22more like thismore than 2020-01-22
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: Scotland 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 plans her Department to provide additional funding to Citizens Advice Scotland to assist universal credit claimants to maintain their online claim. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Linlithgow and East Falkirk more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Martyn Day more like this
star this property uin 6722 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2020-01-31more like thismore than 2020-01-31
star this property answer text <p>Comprehensive support is available to claimants to use our digital service, however we recognise there will be occasions when people are unable to maintain their claim online, so telephone support is available. 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><p>The Department is committed to providing the best possible support for all our claimants, including the most vulnerable in society, in both making and maintaining their claim. Help to Claim delivered through Citizens Advice Scotland offers tailored, practical support to help people make a Universal Credit claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time.</p><p>The Department is assessing the performance and outcomes of the support delivered by Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland through the Help to Claim pilot. We will share the decision about the future of Help to Claim beyond March 2020 in due course.</p><p /><p />
star this property answering member constituency Colchester more like this
star this property answering member printed Will Quince more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2020-01-31T15:30:54.78Zmore like thismore than 2020-01-31T15:30:54.78Z
star this property answering member
4423
star this property label Biography information for Will Quince more like this
star this property tabling member
4488
unstar this property label Biography information for Martyn Day more like this
1173682
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2020-01-27more like thismore than 2020-01-27
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: Scotland 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 her Department has made of the effect of the five-week wait for a first payment of universal credit on levels of poverty in (a) Airdrie and Shotts constituency and (b) Scotland. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Airdrie and Shotts more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Neil Gray more like this
star this property uin 8329 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2020-01-30more like thismore than 2020-01-30
star this property answer text <p>No one has to wait five weeks for their first payment of Universal Credit. New claim advances are available to support those in financial need until their first payment is made. The Department has learnt from where we did not get things right in the past in the legacy benefit system. Too often, the desire to pay quickly meant claimants not receiving their correct entitlement as we did not have an appropriate timeframe to review household circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants can access up to 100% of the total expected monthly award, which they can pay back over a period of up to 12 months. We have announced that from October 2021, the repayment period for these advances will be extended further, to 16 months. Proposed repayments of the advance are explained, and all claimants are advised to request a level of advance which is manageable both now and when considering the repayments required.</p><p> </p><p>The best way to help people improve their lives is through employment. Households where all adults are in work are around 6 times less likely to be in relative poverty than adults in a household where nobody works. This improves further if all the adults are working full time, reducing a child’s risk of being in poverty from 66% for (two-parent) families with only part-time work to 7%. Universal Credit allows households the freedom from the ‘cliff edges’ which featured in the legacy benefits system, where money was lost when working more than 16, 24 or 30 hours.</p><p> </p><p>There are many reasons people use foodbanks and their growth cannot be linked to a single cause. We have listened to feedback on how we can support our Universal Credit claimants and acted quickly, making improvements such as removing waiting days and introducing housing benefit run on. These changes are giving support to vulnerable people who need it most, whilst at the same time helping people get into work faster.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Colchester more like this
star this property answering member printed Will Quince more like this
star this property grouped question UIN
8322 more like this
8327 more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2020-01-30T12:24:46.197Zmore like thismore than 2020-01-30T12:24:46.197Z
star this property answering member
4423
star this property label Biography information for Will Quince more like this
star this property tabling member
4365
unstar this property label Biography information for Neil Gray more like this
1189315
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2020-04-22more like thismore than 2020-04-22
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: Scotland 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 much funding is being allocated to extend the Help to Claim universal credit scheme for a further financial year in Scotland. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Inverclyde more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Ronnie Cowan more like this
star this property uin 39005 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2020-05-01more like thismore than 2020-05-01
star this property answer text <p>Help to Claim assists people to make a Universal Credit claim and receive their first full payment on time through tailored practical support from Citizen’s Advice Scotland advisers.</p><p> </p><p>To maintain this support, the Department has agreed to fund Citizens Advice Scotland up to a further £4.1m for a second year of Help to Claim.</p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Colchester more like this
star this property answering member printed Will Quince more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2020-05-01T12:12:26.12Zmore like thismore than 2020-05-01T12:12:26.12Z
star this property answering member
4423
star this property label Biography information for Will Quince more like this
star this property tabling member
4465
unstar this property label Biography information for Ronnie Cowan more like this
1190176
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2020-04-24more like thismore than 2020-04-24
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: Scotland 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 staff are providing telephone support for people in Scotland trying to apply for universal credit; and what the average call waiting time is for those applicants. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Midlothian more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Owen Thompson more like this
star this property uin 39631 more like this
star this property answer
answer
star this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2020-04-29more like thismore than 2020-04-29
star this property answer text <p>We are unable to extract data for calls from claimants in Scotland from national data.</p><p> </p><p>As of 24 April 2020 the Department has around 7.5 thousand full time equivalent (FTE) staff taking calls from claimants in Great Britain, this includes contracted supplier resource and DWP colleagues who also case manage claims. For week commencing 20 April 2020 the combined average waiting time for all Universal Credit service options on the national Freephone Universal Credit helpline was 22 minutes and 58 seconds, for the Department’s supplier (Serco) who handle inbound calls for new claims this was under one minute.</p><p> </p><p>People making new claims for Universal Credit in fact no longer need to call the Department as part of the process and we have communicated that widely. Once they have completed their online application we will call them if we need to check any of the information they have given us. We have also introduced new processes to ease pressure on waiting times for identity verification over the phone and other processes.</p><p> </p><p>The Department’s priority is to continue to ensure those who are entitled to benefit receive the support they need at a time when new claims for Universal Credit are at an unprecedented level.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Mid Sussex more like this
star this property answering member printed Mims Davies more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2020-04-29T17:19:22.893Zmore like thismore than 2020-04-29T17:19:22.893Z
star this property answering member
4513
star this property label Biography information for Mims Davies more like this
star this property tabling member
4482
unstar this property label Biography information for Owen Thompson more like this