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722275

	registered interest
	date	18/04/2017
	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: Staff
	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 24 November 2016 to Question 53958, on Department for Work and Pensions: staff, when the learning product Supporting Customers with a Vulnerability, covering how to respond to individuals threatening suicide, was introduced; and what proportion of current jobcentre staff have been trained using that product.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
	tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
	uin	71182
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2017 answer text <p>‘Supporting Customers with a Vulnerability’ was introduced in February 2012. It is part of a range of products that build the capability of DWP staff to support vulnerable users of the Department’s services. These products have been developed over time to reflect the Department’s longstanding commitment to this critical aspect of our work. Information on the proportion of current Jobcentre staff who have completed this particular product could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 25/04/2017 11:58:00 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

802720

	registered interest
	date	07/12/2017
	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: Glasgow North East
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that the roll-out of universal credit in Glasgow North East constituency will not result in an increase in child poverty.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow North East
	tabling member printed	Mr Paul Sweeney
	uin	118269
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2017 answer text <p>Work is the best route out of poverty, and Universal Credit supports parents to move into and progress in work, and raises the income of families.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2010 the number of children growing up in households where no one works has fallen by half a million.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 12/12/2017 13:14:01 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4642 label Biography information for Mr Paul Sweeney

776070

	registered interest
	date	23/10/2017
	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 guidance his Department provides to individual claimants and Jobcentre Plus work coaches specifically on universal credit advance payments and alternative payment arrangements.
	tabling member constituency	Bermondsey and Old Southwark
	tabling member printed	Neil Coyle
	uin	109029
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2017 answer text <p>Work coaches are trained to offer personal budgeting support and discuss whether claimants need help to manage until their first Universal Credit payment. The work coach will discuss with the claimant whether an advance payment of Universal Credit or an alternate payment arrangement of rent to their landlord is suitable.</p><p> </p><p>The guidance for work coaches has been refreshed for new claims advances, change of circumstances advances, benefit transfer advances and budgeting advances. It gives an overview and sets out the elements of the Personal Budgeting Support, also eligibility and advice on how and when Alternative Payment Arrangements can apply. It also refers to making claimants aware that they are able to claim the maximum advance and are able to repay at the maximum repayment period.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has undertaken recent work to raise awareness of advances nationally, including providing options on the UC Helpline, and signposting through the new “Universal Credit &amp; you” guide for claimants. The UC helpline and guide also provide information on alternate payment arrangements.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 26/10/2017 16:28:45 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4368 label Biography information for Neil Coyle

809558

	registered interest
	date	19/12/2017
	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	Children: Day Care
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 19 of the written evidence submitted by Gingerbread to the Work and Pensions Committee, UCR0106, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of knowledge of the Universal Credit childcare offer among DWP work coaches.
	tabling member constituency	Ealing Central and Acton
	tabling member printed	Dr Rupa Huq
	uin	120216
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/12/2017 answer text <p>Work coaches and case managers receive a blend of face-to-face and online learning, which focuses on the technical delivery of Universal Credit, the transformational change, as well as consolidation of their training post-completion.</p><p>All work coaches receive specialist training on childcare in Universal Credit Full Service as part of this learning journey, which is designed to support them in the delivery of the service.</p><p>This training, with the aid of the Universal Credit Full Service Guidance, enables work coaches and case managers to:</p><ul><li>state when a claimant is eligible to claim childcare costs</li><li>check if a childcare provider is registered</li><li>record childcare provider details on the Training Service</li><li>verify childcare costs</li><li>clerically calculate child care costs paid in advance</li><li>state the time limits for providing evidence</li><li>state what reasonable usage is</li></ul><p>Furthermore, the Universal Credit Full Service has a training feature that allows our staff to experience the system before their site goes live with the Full Service.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 21/12/2017 16:05:49 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4511 label Biography information for Dr Rupa Huq

765385

	registered interest
	date	06/10/2017
	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	Jobcentres: Interviews
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's policy is on the setting of time limits for jobseekers' interviews with their work coaches.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	105448
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/10/2017 answer text <p>Work Coaches working with their local managers are best placed to identify the support and guidance that is appropriate to each claimant to help them move in to work as quickly as possible.</p><p> </p><p>The length of the appointment and the number of times that a Work Coach sees a claimant is dependent upon which conditionality group they are placed in. As an example those claimants undertaking Intensive Work Search are required to attend mandatory face to face weekly interventions for the first 13 weeks of their claim</p><p> </p><p>Work Coaches have the flexibility to apply easements for attendance, for example:</p><p> </p><ul><li>temporary absence to receive medical treatment,</li><li>bereavement of partner or child,</li><li>domestic Violence,</li><li>child in distress,</li><li>drug/alcohol dependent,</li><li>carrying out public duty,</li><li>periods of sickness,</li><li>claimant in prison,</li><li>witness protection</li></ul> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 16/10/2017 11:33:53 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

756112

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2017
	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	Jobcentres: Closures
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the effect of jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus closures on the ability of jobcentre users to access job opportunities.
	tabling member constituency	Central Ayrshire
	tabling member printed	Dr Philippa Whitford
	uin	6966
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/09/2017 answer text <p>Work Coaches work with claimants to ensure that they optimise their chances in the labour market.</p><p> </p><p>This includes supporting claimants to develop their confidence and capability to access the widest range of job opportunities, signposting to suitable sources of vacancies and specialist services.</p><p> </p><p>This support is a core element of the jobcentre service which will be provided from the claimant’s new jobcentre.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 07/09/2017 16:01:16 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4385 label Biography information for Dr Philippa Whitford

789191

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2017
	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	Unemployment: Disability
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support job coaches are able to offer jobseekers with health conditions and disabilities in the event that those jobcentres are unable to access the Work and Health programme.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	113000
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2017 answer text <p>Work Coaches work closely with jobseekers to help them move towards employment and can offer a wide range of support tailored to the specific needs of customers, including those with health conditions and disabilities.</p><p> </p><p>There is a wide range of local and national contracted and non-contracted provision and support available to customers, and their Work Coach will refer them to the most appropriate support available locally.</p><p> </p><p>In areas where the Work and Health Programme has not yet rolled out, contracts for other provision have been extended to ensure we can continue to meet the on-going needs of customers.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 20/11/2017 16:40:53 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

793981

	registered interest
	date	22/11/2017
	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	Jobcentres
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what financial assistance is available to unemployed claimants of universal credit and jobseekers allowance who are unable to use public transport and are required to attend job centre appointments.
	tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
	tabling member printed	Gerard Killen
	uin	115070
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2017 answer text <p>Whilst it is Government Policy to encourage people to use public transport, it is recognised that there will be circumstances where this is not possible, for example when a person is infirm or disabled, public transport is not available, or the customer is accompanied by a helper or support worker. This can be discussed with the Work Coach.</p><p> </p><p>Work Coaches already have flexibility to support claimants who are required to attend regular Jobcentre Plus appointments.</p><p> </p><p>Alternative arrangements can be made for claimants who live more than one hour away from their nearest Jobcentre Plus office using public transport and for journeys which result in an absence from home of four hours or more. In these circumstances claimants can engage with us through digital or telephony channels or exceptionally by post for Jobseekers Allowance claimants.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 30/11/2017 16:57:03 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4672 label Biography information for Ged Killen

772322

	registered interest
	date	17/10/2017
	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: Homelessness
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what additional support is being offered to people applying for universal credit who (a) have lost identification documents during a period of homelessness and (b) are unable to provide a permanent address.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	108189
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2017 answer text <p>Where the 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). A claim to Universal Credit can still be made if a claimant does not have a permanent address.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 20/10/2017 10:02:34 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

810746

	registered interest
	date	21/12/2017
	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: Council Tax Reduction Schemes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether jobcentre plus staff inform clients claiming universal credit that they are eligible to claim council tax relief in those local authority areas where this relief is still available for working-age people.
	tabling member constituency	Oxford East
	tabling member printed	Anneliese Dodds
	uin	121091
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/01/2018 answer text <p>When making an online claim for Universal Credit, claimants are signposted to independent websites and benefit calculators which highlight other support that may be available in their area, including Council Tax reduction.</p><p> </p><p>DWP staff are aware of support available locally and this forms a key part of the conversations during the initial stages of a Universal Credit claim.</p><p> </p><p>They also promote national products of support, such as the online money manager developed by the Money Advice Service.</p><p> </p><p>There is a section on Gov.uk relating to budgeting support which can be found here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-budgeting-support-for-universal-credit-claimants" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-budgeting-support-for-universal-credit-claimants</a></p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 08/01/2018 14:00:28 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
	tabling member	4657 label Biography information for Anneliese Dodds