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1141443

	registered interest
	date	23/07/2019
	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	Child Maintenance Service
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department has collected through the Child Maintenance Service's (a) four per cent and (b) twenty per cent collection fees under Collect and Pay in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	281113
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>Income received through the Child Maintenance Service collection charges from 2014/15 through to 2017/18 is as follows:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>2014/15</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2015/16</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016/17</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017/18</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p><strong>£m</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>£m</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>£m</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>£m</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>PP Collection Charge</p></td><td><p>20%</p></td><td><p>1.649</p></td><td><p>5.573</p></td><td><p>10.494</p></td><td><p>16.878</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>RP Collection Charge</p></td><td><p>4%</p></td><td><p>0.325</p></td><td><p>1.086</p></td><td><p>2.026</p></td><td><p>3.241</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>The 2018/19 Child Maintenance Service Annual Report and Accounts have not been audited yet so we are unable to include figures from this period in PQ responses.</p><p>Income received is used to offset the administration cost of the Child Maintenance Group.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 03/09/2019 13:24:44 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1141444

	registered interest
	date	23/07/2019
	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	Child Maintenance Service
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much revenue her Department has collected through the Child Maintenance Service's £20 application fee in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	281114
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>Income received from the Child Maintenance Service £20 Application fee from 2014/15 through to 2017/18 is as follows:</p><p> </p><p>2014/15 £0.828m</p><p>2015/16 £1.692m</p><p>2016/17 £1.799m</p><p>2017/18 £1.520m</p><p> </p><p>The 2018/19 Child Maintenance Service Annual Report and Accounts have not been audited yet so we are unable to include figures from this period in PQ responses.</p><p>Income received is used to offset the administration cost of the Child Maintenance Group.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 03/09/2019 12:58:50 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1142234

	registered interest
	date	25/07/2019
	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 work coaches will be provided with additional training to ensure that they can effectively advise universal credit claimants on meeting upfront childcare costs.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	282503
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>DWP is committed to providing the best possible support for all our claimants to meet their individual circumstance.</p><p> </p><p>Our Work Coaches and Decision Makers undergo a comprehensive learning journey designed to equip them with the tools, skills and behaviours required to provide a high quality service, which includes training on children, childcare and payment of upfront childcare costs.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, DWP supporting information is available on Universal Credit Guidance and Universal Learning sites which enhances learning, and is available at the point of need for each individual personal requirement.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 03/09/2019 15:22:12 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1142236

	registered interest
	date	25/07/2019
	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, how many universal credit claimants have been offered a flexible support fund payment between 1 January 2019 and 25 July 2019 to assist with upfront childcare costs.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	282505
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not held in a format that can be easily disaggregated and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 03/09/2019 15:31:41 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1142291

	registered interest
	date	25/07/2019
	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, with reference to her oral contribution to the Work and Pensions Committee, of 24 July 2019, what guidance her Department provides to work coaches on how to apply discretionary support for upfront childcare costs.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	282552
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The Department maintains guidance for its work coaches surrounding the eligibility and processes for awarding discretionary support to assist with claimants’ upfront childcare costs for those claiming Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>There are two discretionary sources of financial support to help with childcare costs: The Flexible Support Fund and Universal Credit Budgeting Advances. Claimants are able to discuss eligibility for these with their jobcentre work coach.</p><p> </p><p>Budgeting Advances provide valuable access to interest free payments for one-off items. They are designed to help claimants with irregular expenses including upfront childcare costs. Budgeting Advance payments are discretionary subject to eligibility conditions and must be repaid. Work coaches also have the discretion to use the Flexible Support Fund to support the transition into work until a claimant receives their first wage and is not repayable. Individual claimant circumstances are considered each time assistance may be appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>The Department deposits guidance to the House’s library on a range of Universal Credits topics including the below. This was last updated on 28 March 2019 and we are currently working to share the latest guidance.</p><p> </p><p>Childcare costs: <a href="http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0465/Childcare_costs_v11.0.pdf" target="_blank">http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0465/Childcare_costs_v11.0.pdf</a></p><p>Budgeting Advance: <a href="http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0465/Advances-_Budgeting_Advances_v2.0.pdf" target="_blank">http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0465/Advances-_Budgeting_Advances_v2.0.pdf</a></p><p>Flexible Support Fund: <a href="http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0465/Flexible_Support_Fund_v4.0.pdf" target="_blank">http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0465/Flexible_Support_Fund_v4.0.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 03/09/2019 15:13:28 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1142305

	registered interest
	date	25/07/2019
	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, with reference to her oral contribution to the Work and Pensions Committee, of 24 July 2019, whether claimants will be entitled to claim the childcare element of universal credit in the same month that they have received support for upfront childcare costs.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	282560
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting parents with moving into work and, as part of this, we have increased the level of ongoing financial support for childcare costs from 70 per cent in legacy benefits to up to 85 per cent in Universal Credit, which is called the ‘childcare element’. The Universal Credit childcare policy aligns with the wider government childcare offer, which includes free childcare hours and tax free childcare. This offer means that reasonable childcare costs should not form a barrier to work.</p><p> </p><p>Beyond the Universal Credit childcare element, there is other financial support to help with childcare costs: the Flexible Support Fund and Budgeting Advances. Claimants are able to discuss eligibility for these with their jobcentre work coach.</p><p> </p><p>Where initial upfront childcare costs or deposits may prevent a claimant from starting work, work coaches have the discretion to use the Flexible Support Fund to support the transition into work until a claimant receives their first wage. Individual claimant circumstances are considered each time assistance may be appropriate.</p><p> </p><p>A budgeting advance can help with one-off urgent financial events for Universal Credit claimants, such as upfront childcare, and is repayable over a period of up to 12 monthly instalments. Only one Budgeting Advance will be paid at a time and further advances will be unavailable until the balance of the previous Budgeting Advance is cleared.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is working hard to ensure that the Universal Credit childcare offer continues to operate effectively for claimants. Since February 2018, Universal Credit claimants have been able to upload digital copies of their childcare cost receipts or invoices through their online Universal Credit account. When parents have good reason for late reporting of their childcare costs, the Department is piloting a more flexible approach to enable parents to be reimbursed at a later point.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 282549 282553 282555 282559 question first answered 03/09/2019 12:46:50 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1142307

	registered interest
	date	25/07/2019
	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, with reference to her evidence of 24 July 2019 to the Work and Pensions Committee on increased support with upfront childcare costs, whether work coaches use the Flexible Support Fund to provide that additional support after the first month.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	282561
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>Work Coaches can use the Flexible Support Fund (FSF) to pay 100% of the upfront childcare costs up to the payment limits set that the claimant incurs between starting work and receiving their first wage. This is paid directly to the childcare providers and is not repayable. Examples of what it can be used to cover include:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Deposit – To pay a provider a one off advance payment of childcare costs.</li><li>Retainer – To pay a provider a one off advance payment to secure the nursery provision prior to the parent starting work or training.</li><li>Fees – To pay a provider upfront childcare fees in advance of the service being delivered; and</li><li>Taster/Settling in periods – To pay a provider a one off advance payment to enable the parent to prepare their child before taking up the full childcare offer.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Once a claimant has received their first wage, we have given Work Coaches the flexibility to use Budgeting Advances to help pay for further upfront childcare costs where required and where a claimant is eligible. This includes - during school holidays, change of childcare provider, or additional childcare in order to increase work hours. Budgeting Advances do have to be repaid, however, up to 85% of these childcare costs can be reimbursed through the UC childcare offer (up to caps) once a paid receipt is submitted.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 282562 question first answered 05/09/2019 11:53:46 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1142308

	registered interest
	date	25/07/2019
	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, with reference to her oral evidence of 24 July 2019 to the Work and Pensions Committee on increased support with upfront childcare costs on Wednesday 24 July, whether work coaches will be given greater flexibility to use the Flexible Support Fund.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	282562
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>Work Coaches can use the Flexible Support Fund (FSF) to pay 100% of the upfront childcare costs up to the payment limits set that the claimant incurs between starting work and receiving their first wage. This is paid directly to the childcare providers and is not repayable. Examples of what it can be used to cover include:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Deposit – To pay a provider a one off advance payment of childcare costs.</li><li>Retainer – To pay a provider a one off advance payment to secure the nursery provision prior to the parent starting work or training.</li><li>Fees – To pay a provider upfront childcare fees in advance of the service being delivered; and</li><li>Taster/Settling in periods – To pay a provider a one off advance payment to enable the parent to prepare their child before taking up the full childcare offer.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Once a claimant has received their first wage, we have given Work Coaches the flexibility to use Budgeting Advances to help pay for further upfront childcare costs where required and where a claimant is eligible. This includes - during school holidays, change of childcare provider, or additional childcare in order to increase work hours. Budgeting Advances do have to be repaid, however, up to 85% of these childcare costs can be reimbursed through the UC childcare offer (up to caps) once a paid receipt is submitted.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 282561 question first answered 05/09/2019 11:53:46 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1142674

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2019
	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	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many enforcement actions the HMRC and Child Maintenance Group liaison group has conducted since January 2017.
	tabling member constituency	Glenrothes
	tabling member printed	Peter Grant
	uin	284156
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The Department is currently working with HMRC to identify opportunities for closer working on a range of enforcement activities, as part of the implementation of the DWP’s child maintenance compliance and arrears strategy.</p><p>Alongside this work the Department’s Financial Investigations Unit continues to conduct investigations into child maintenance matters. Between January and March 2019 the CMS’s Financial Investigations Unit launched 530 complex earnings investigations and 20 criminal investigations.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 05/09/2019 11:29:36 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4466 label Biography information for Peter Grant

1142697

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2019
	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	Children: Maintenance
	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 issues to (a) non-resident parents and (b) parents with care on changes to their child maintenance calculations when their case transfers from the Child Support Agency to the Child Maintenance Service.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	284195
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Ahead of closure Child Support Agency send customers a series of letters advising about their case closing and what they can do should they want child maintenance payments to continue. This advice includes making an advance application to the Child Maintenance Service, t o ensure there are no breaks in child maintenance.</p><p> </p><p>When the Child Support Agency case is closed, we write to non-resident parent during the stage where we are confirming the arrears position, to remind them of the amount we have worked out they owe. We advise them to contact us if they have any other relevant information which would impact this. A letter is then sent to receiving parent advising we have confirmed their balance of child maintenance. Where child maintenance is owed, we ask if the balance is correct and if they want their arrears written off or managed by Child Maintenance Service. Parents are provided with contact details to discuss their case, at all points.</p><p> </p><p>In cases where the arrears are moved to Child Maintenance Service, a letter is sent to both parties confirming their Child Support Agency case is fully closed. We also advise the unpaid child maintenance is now being managed by Child Maintenance Service. This provides the parent with the new telephone number they will need if they wish to contact Child Maintenance Service.</p><p> </p><p>Where there is a new Child Maintenance Service case, which was previously a Child Support Agency case, the calculation can change. This is because it is a fresh start under the new service, with new rules and data.</p><p> </p><p>At the outset of a Child Maintenance Service case, we issue an indicative calculation letter to the parents. This explains the new calculation, including the information used in the calculation. This provides opportunity for the non-resident parent to provide any further information that would impact the calculation. Following this we issue an initial calculation letter which confirms the calculation and the details used.</p><p> </p><p>Parents are advised they have the opportunity, throughout the application process and the life of the case as well as at annual review stage, to challenge the information used and request change.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 09/09/2019 13:21:58 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows