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1355106

	registered interest
	date	13/09/2021
	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	Access to Work Programme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of whether there has been a change in the average time taken to process Access to Work payments in the most recent period for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston and Surbiton
	tabling member printed	Ed Davey
	uin	48133
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2021 answer text I refer to my response to <a href="https://dwp.ecase.co.uk/view_case?case_ref=PQN/21-22/2021/73119" target="_blank">PQN/21-22/2021/73119</a>21-<p> </p><p>Access to Work aim for customers to be paid within 10 days of receipt of claims and all supporting evidence.</p><p> </p><p>Following postal delays during July and August, we are seeing payment clearance times returning to normal levels.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 16/09/2021 14:59:09 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	188 label Biography information for Ed Davey

1194161

	registered interest
	date	11/05/2020
	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	Social Security Benefits: Coronavirus
	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 through the benefits system to support vulnerable claimants with cancer during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	45198
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2020 answer text <ul><li>The Department is committed to ensuring people affected by cancer are supported in a sensitive, fair and appropriate way.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>In Employment and Support Allowance a light touch evidence gathering process exists, to help determine eligibility. Claimants should not delay making a claim because of difficulties in providing supporting medical information. We will continue to process claims and work with customers to gather the best supporting evidence available.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>We’ve suspended award reviews and DLA to PIP reassessment activity and extended existing awards to ensure they don’t go out of payment. We have also suspended all routine award reviews and re-assessments of disability additions in Universal Credit.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Supporting people who are terminally ill remains an absolute priority for the Department and we will continue to fast track terminally ill claimants to higher rates of award.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 18/05/2020 15:36:38 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1226501

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2020
	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	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 her Department has made of the potential merits of extending the time frame beyond 30 days of the date of decision for the mandatory reconsideration of a universal credit decision to provide support agencies with a wider time frame to help people with that process.
	tabling member constituency	Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
	tabling member printed	Drew Hendry
	uin	76779
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>Whilst the time limit for applying for a Mandatory Reconsideration is one month, if an application is made within this period but more time is needed to provide supporting evidence, the claimant or their representative can ask that a decision is not made pending the provision of that evidence.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 01/09/2020 12:07:26 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4467 label Biography information for Drew Hendry

1204423

	registered interest
	date	16/06/2020
	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	Universal Credit: Migrants
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a UK citizen who is married to a person with leave to remain in the UK but has no recourse to public funds is permitted to claim universal credit; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	59665
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2020 answer text <p>Where only one member of a couple is eligible for UC (for example the other adult in the couple is subject to immigration control) then that ineligible person’s circumstances will not be brought to bear in calculating how much the maximum amount of UC payable is. Their capital, income and earnings will, however, be taken into account in adjusting the actual UC award. The term ‘assessment unit’ is used to capture both members of a couple where one adult is not eligible for UC.</p><p> </p><p>Non-UK nationals and family members who are issued with a residence permit with a NRPF condition are not eligible to access taxpayer-funded benefits such as Universal Credit, Child Benefit or housing assistance for the duration of their leave. Contributions-based benefits and the State Pension are not classed as public funds. DWP has no powers to award taxpayer-funded benefits to an individual whose Home Office immigration status specifies no recourse to public funds.</p><p> </p><p>DWP decision makers undertake rigorous training and are expected to offer a high standard of support to help people identify the evidence they need to provide as part of their application for income-based benefits.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 22/06/2020 16:12:22 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1272112

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2020
	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	Severe Disability Premium
	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 9 December 2020 to Question 124879 on disability premium, whether any compensation is offered to claimants affected by accidental cessation of the severe disability premium on employment and support allowance awards; and how long on average claimants have had to wait before that premium was reinstated in the most recent period for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Poplar and Limehouse
	tabling member printed	Apsana Begum
	uin	131498
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2021 answer text <p>Where claimants have been affected by accidental cessation of the severe disability premium as part of their Employment and Support Allowance, we are taking swift action to rectify the mistake. The Department’s position on compensation is that each case must be considered on its own merits, taking into account the particular circumstances of that case.</p><p> </p><p>Specific information on the waiting times for reinstatement of the premium is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 11/01/2021 14:27:16 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4790 label Biography information for Apsana Begum

1224486

	registered interest
	date	14/07/2020
	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	Social Security Benefits: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what financial support her Department provides for extremely clinically vulnerable people advised by their health care teams to continue shielding during the covid-19 outbreak beyond 1 August 2020 and as a consequence are unable to work.
	tabling member constituency	Warwick and Leamington
	tabling member printed	Matt Western
	uin	73941
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/07/2020 answer text <p>Where an individual is notified by their doctor or health service to continue to shield in cases of local lockdown and where shielding guidance is reinstated, they will be eligible for ESA or SSP. If an individual is no longer required to shield they may still be entitled to ESA or SSP where they are sick, or self-isolating and meet the eligibility conditions. People can also apply for Universal Credit.</p><p /><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 17/07/2020 14:00:10 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4617 label Biography information for Matt Western

1203820

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2020
	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	Personal Independence Payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy that existing disability living allowance recipients who are awarded a higher rate of Mobility or Daily Living allowance after applying for personal independence payment (PIP) because their health has deteriorated are awarded those higher rates from the date of their PIP application.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	59520
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/06/2020 answer text <p>When existing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) recipients begin to get paid a new award of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) a single rule is applied, which is the subject of statutory Regulations, regardless of their circumstances or the outcome of the claim. PIP is a different benefit to DLA and the statutory arrangements maintain the level of DLA paid while the claim to PIP is being processed to ensure continuity of payment. The arrangements also provide for a minimum four week run on to provide additional, limited support to those seeing a decrease in financial support. For those entitled to PIP, the rules also operate to allow a smooth transition without running the risk of over or underpaying anyone and represent the fairest outcomes for the majority of claimants going through the process of being reassessed for PIP.</p><p> </p><p>These arrangements have been in place since DLA to PIP reassessment activity commenced from October 2013 and we have no plans to change them.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 19/06/2020 12:29:49 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1224956

	registered interest
	date	15/07/2020
	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	Chemicals: Health Hazards
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government has taken to implement recommendation 15 of the Environmental Audit Committee's Twentieth report of Session 2017-19 entitled, Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Life, HC1805.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham East
	tabling member printed	Janet Daby
	uin	74727
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2020 answer text <p>When deciding whether to prescribe new diseases under the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Scheme Minsters are guided by the recommendations of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (“IIAC”). IIAC are independent of government,</p><p> </p><p>Following the recommendation of the Environmental Audit Committee IIAC launched an investigation into the cancers likely to be suffered by fire fighters, building on the extensive commissioned review it carried out in 2010. To inform its investigation, IIAC engaged with the University of Central Lancashire and conducted a detailed search of the published scientific literature in this field in order to scrutinise the available evidence. Having analysed the evidence in depth, IIAC is currently in the process of concluding its deliberations and expects to be able to respond to the Environmental Audit Committee in due course. IIAC plans to publish a position paper setting out its findings.</p><p> </p><p>Fire and Rescue Services have duties to prevent and control risks (so far as reasonably practicable) to the health of their employees due to exposure to hazardous substances, and the Health and Safety Executive expects Fire and Rescue Services to ensure that measures are in place to control exposure and minimise contamination, as this may lead to health risks. Such measures would include the provision and maintenance of suitable personal protective equipment, facilities for storing and cleaning such equipment and providing information, training and appropriate supervision to their employees on potential risks.</p><p>The Health and Safety Executive is monitoring the progress of all current research which seeks to improve the working environment for firefighters, and will ensure that Fire and Rescue Services continue to identify and control risks to their employees. HSE are also aware that United Kingdom Fire and Rescue Services (UKFRS) are also researching health risks and effects from contaminated kit. HSE have provided support at National Level to ensure that this is kept near the top of the priority list.</p><p /><p>Background info:</p><p>House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee</p><p><a href="https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvaud/1805/1805.pdf" target="_blank">20<sup>th</sup> Report: “Toxic Chemicals in Everyday Life”</a></p><p> </p><p>Recommendation 15 (page 47):</p><p>94. We recognise that firefighters have a greater risk from environmental contamination from fires and support the research being undertaken by the University of Central Lancashire and the Fire Brigades Union. This is still in its early stages. However, research from the US has already shown that firefighters suffer higher instances of cancer in carrying out their duties than the normal population. <strong><em>The Government should update the Social Security Regulations so that the cancers most commonly suffered by firefighters are presumed to be industrial injuries. This should be mirrored in the UK’s Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefits Scheme</em></strong><em>.</em> <em>We also recommend that the Health and Safety Executive monitors the progress of the Fire Brigades Union research and provides assistance in implementing recommendations which seek to improve the work environments of UK firefighters. This should include measures to minimise contamination from clothing and equipment and reduce the overall exposure of firefighters, their families and the public.</em></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 23/07/2020 13:06:32 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4698 label Biography information for Janet Daby

1226305

	registered interest
	date	20/07/2020
	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	National Insurance: Foreign Nationals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the procedure is for foreign nationals wishing to apply for a national insurance number; for what reasons her Department has not made provision for virtual interviews for foreign nationals wishing to apply for a national insurance number during the covid-19 outbreak; whether she plans for such virtual interviews to begin in lieu of physical interviews and, if so, on what date; and what assessment she has made of trends in the number of foreign nationals being turned down for work as a result of employers’ concerns about making a mistake on a potential employee’s right to work due to their not being in possession of a national insurance number.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh West
	tabling member printed	Christine Jardine
	uin	76859
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>When applying for a National Insurance Number (NINo), all applicants are required to have their identity verified. For those applicants whose identity has already been verified by another UK Government Department, primarily Home Office, their applications are dealt with by post. For those who have not had their identity verified, primarily EU/EEA nationals, the current process requires them to attend a face to face interview with DWP to verify their identity.</p><p> </p><p>Due to COVID-19, the face to face interview process was suspended from 17<sup>th</sup> March 2020. This enabled us to redeploy a large number of staff to help process the substantial number of benefit claims received during this period.</p><p> </p><p>It is not possible, due to the requirement to examine ID documents, to offer a virtual service. However, we are working on a digital solution that, once in place, will enable us to restart the process. Our current plan is for that to be in place by the end of September 2020.</p><p> </p><p>Employers are required to conduct mandatory Right to Work checks on all prospective employees. Having a NINo is not part of these checks, and the possession of a NINo does not prove that an individual has a right to work. Indeed, an individual can apply for a job and take up employment without a NINo. I have included a link to the guidance on Right to Work checks that is provided to employers by the Home Office.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-work-checks-employers-guide" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-work-checks-employers-guide</a></p><p /><p>The Department does not hold information on the number of foreign nationals who may have been turned down for work as a result of not having a NINo.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 01/09/2020 12:19:27 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4634 label Biography information for Christine Jardine

1313012

	registered interest
	date	11/05/2021
	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	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 support is in place to assist (a) people and (b) people with mental health difficulties with financial management and guidance on budgeting in cases where a large back payment has been awarded.
	tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
	tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
	uin	62
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/05/2021 answer text <p>When a large back payment is made there are a number of mechanisms in place to support a customer, including those who may be vulnerable. These mechanisms depend on the legislative framework within the product line, and include payments being split between the customer and a third party with the customer’s consent, payments being paid in full to a third party who will support the customer to manage the payment, or paying smaller amounts staggered over a period of time.</p><p> </p><p>For example, within Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit, where we identify that there may be an impact on the health, safety and wellbeing of a customer when they receive an arrears payment or a payment outside of their usual payment cycle, we work with the customer to understand their needs and help them to identify and access appropriate support.</p><p> </p><p>This financial management support may include utilising the support of the Department’s Advanced Customer Support Senior Leaders and signposting customers to external organisations. These organisations include the Money Advice Service, Money Advice Trust, Citizens Advice or the customer’s own support worker, to ensure they are supported with the management of these funds.</p><p> </p><p>We also offer budgeting support to customers receiving their regular benefits entitlement. In UC a referral process is in place where a need for Personal Budgeting Support is identified; this includes referral to online information, or a personal appointment by phone or in person to discuss a customer’s individual requirements. In some cases, an Alternative Payment Arrangement is agreed - where for example, payments are made more frequently or directly to a landlord to support claimants with longer term budgeting problems.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 18/05/2021 16:02:39 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman