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1127116
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-05-16more like thismore than 2019-05-16
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 remove filter
star 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 estimate her Department has made of the effect of the 5-week wait for the first payment of universal credit on (a) a claimant’s level of (i) debt and (ii) rent arrears and (b) the finances of disabled claimants. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Wirral West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Margaret Greenwood more like this
star this property uin 255340 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 2019-05-21more like thismore than 2019-05-21
star this property answer text <p>No one has to wait 5 weeks for their first payment of Universal Credit. Advances are available from the first day of a valid claim, if required, to support claimants.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Alok Sharma remove filter
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-05-21T15:59:56.763Zmore like thismore than 2019-05-21T15:59:56.763Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4400
unstar this property label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood more like this
1127119
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-05-16more like thismore than 2019-05-16
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 remove filter
star 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 and what proportion of universal credit payments have been subject to a deduction as a result of a claimant’s historic debt to (a) her Department and (b) HM Treasury in the latest month for which data is available. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Wirral West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Margaret Greenwood more like this
star this property uin 255341 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 2019-05-21more like thismore than 2019-05-21
star this property answer text <p>Internal Management information shows that in April 2019, 280,000 payments of Universal Credit (UC) had a deduction applied to repay a non UC debt owed to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and 340,000 payments of UC had a deduction applied to repay a Tax Credit debt (these figures have been rounded to the nearest 10,000). Some payments of UC may have had a deduction for both a non UC debt and a Tax Credit debt. These claimants would appear in both totals, therefore the figures cannot be summed.</p><p> </p><p>In line with the deductions policy in UC, for both types of debt, the deductions would not usually exceed the maximum amounts, which are set out legislation. Only in cases where last resort deductions are applied can these rates be exceeded. DWP ensures that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect claimants who have deductions from their benefit to repay overpayments. If a claimant is struggling they can contact DWP’s Debt Management to discuss lowering their repayment rate.</p><p> </p><p>It is also worth noting that it is not possible to provide this as a proportion at April 2019, as the latest UC caseload data is only available as of 14 February 19. However, for context, as of 14 February 19, 1.4m households received payments of UC.</p><p> </p><p>N.B. This data on deductions has been sourced from internal management information. It should therefore not be compared to any other similar data subsequently released by the DWP.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Alok Sharma remove filter
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-05-21T15:53:23.277Zmore like thismore than 2019-05-21T15:53:23.277Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4400
unstar this property label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood more like this
1132259
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-06-14more like thismore than 2019-06-14
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 remove filter
star 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 her Department has spent on legal costs in the case of R (Johnson and Ors) v SSWP [2019] EWHC 23 (Admin) as of 14 June 2019. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Wirral West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Margaret Greenwood more like this
star this property uin 264777 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 2019-06-19more like thismore than 2019-06-19
star this property answer text As at 14th June 2019, the Department has spent £52,446 on legal costs defending and appealing the case of Johnson &amp; Others v SSWP. This includes Government Legal Department litigation fees, counsel’s fees and other disbursements, as well as VAT where payable. This does not include payment of the claimants’ solicitor’s costs. Time spent by Government advisory lawyers is not recorded in a manner that allows it to be attributed to individual cases. more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Alok Sharma remove filter
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-19T13:58:43.847Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-19T13:58:43.847Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4400
unstar this property label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood more like this
1132261
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-06-14more like thismore than 2019-06-14
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 remove filter
star 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, pursuant to the Answer of 30 July 2018 to Question 166515 on Universal Credit, what the latest estimate is that she has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of universal credit claims that have been started but not completed. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Wirral West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Margaret Greenwood more like this
star this property uin 264778 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 2019-06-19more like thismore than 2019-06-19
star this property answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for High Peak on 14 February 2019 to Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-02-11/219577/" target="_blank">219577</a>.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Alok Sharma remove filter
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-19T15:20:27.353Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-19T15:20:27.353Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4400
unstar this property label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood more like this
1137617
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-07-08more like thismore than 2019-07-08
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 remove filter
star 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 estimate she has made of the proportion of claimants who received advance payments (a) below the value of, (b) the same value as and (c) above the value of their first universal credit payment in the most recent month for which data is available. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Wirral West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Margaret Greenwood more like this
star this property uin 274559 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 2019-07-11more like thismore than 2019-07-11
star this property answer text <p>Claimants can access up to 100% of the total expected monthly award, for which they can pay back over a period of up to 12 months. From October 2021, this maximum repayment period will be extended from 12 to 16 months.</p><p> </p><p>The Department ensures claimants are made aware of their maximum advance entitlement and informed that their Universal Credit award will be adjusted over the relevant recovery period to take into account the advance of benefit they received.</p><p> </p><p>The available data shows that in the 12-month period up to the end of April 2019.</p><p> </p><p>(a) Around 20% of claimants take an advance which is less than 50% of their actual award value</p><p>(b) Around 75% of claimants take an advance which is between 50-100% of their actual award value</p><p>(c) Around 5% of claimants take an advance which is over 100% of their actual award value.</p><p> </p><p><em>To note on C): in a small number of cases the information provided by the claimant at the point of their new claim initially indicates a higher award than is actually applicable when the first assessment period has been completed.</em></p>
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Alok Sharma remove filter
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-07-11T15:28:35.08Zmore like thismore than 2019-07-11T15:28:35.08Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4400
unstar this property label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood more like this
1137829
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-07-09more like thismore than 2019-07-09
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 remove filter
star 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 proportion of claimants have successfully applied for universal credit (a) once, (b) twice and (c) three or more times in the last 12 months. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Wirral West more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Margaret Greenwood more like this
star this property uin 275219 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 2019-07-15more like thismore than 2019-07-15
star this property answer text <p>The proportion of claimants, between July 2018 and June 2019, that have successfully applied for Universal Credit</p><p>a) Once was 91%</p><p>b) Twice was 7%</p><p>c) Three or more times was 1%</p><p> </p><p>A successful application to Universal Credit is defined as a contract for which at least one statement is provided i.e. has received at least one payment.</p><p> </p><p>There are many reasons why a claimant might be required to make a claim on more than one occasion, such as a claimant entering temporary work and then reclaiming at the end of their employment.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><em>Notes: Percentages are rounded to the nearest percent</em><em>.  </em></p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Alok Sharma remove filter
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-07-15T15:43:12.117Zmore like thismore than 2019-07-15T15:43:12.117Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4400
unstar this property label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood more like this
1130135
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-06-05more like thismore than 2019-06-05
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 remove filter
star 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 estimate she has made of the proportion of universal credit claimants who have had payments reduced because they had previously received advances. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Vale of Clwyd more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Chris Ruane more like this
star this property uin 260559 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 2019-06-10more like thismore than 2019-06-10
star this property answer text <p>Universal Credit (UC) new claim advances provide access to a payment for those in financial need, which can be accessed on the same day, until their first UC payment is due. Claimants can access up to 100% of the total expected monthly award, for which they can pay back over a period of up to 12 months.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has taken a number of steps to ensure that advances meet the needs of claimants and that recovery arrangements are personalised and reasonable. From October 2019 we are reducing the maximum rate of deductions to 30 per cent and from October 2021 we are increasing the maximum recovery period for advances from 12 to 16 months.</p><p> </p><p>The latest available data is for eligible claims to UC Full Service that are due a payment in February 2019. Of these claims 44% had a deduction to repay a UC advance.</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p> </p><ol><li>Data has been sourced from UC Full Service.</li></ol> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Alok Sharma remove filter
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-10T14:00:26.04Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-10T14:00:26.04Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
534
unstar this property label Biography information for Chris Ruane more like this
1137863
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-07-09more like thismore than 2019-07-09
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 remove filter
star 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 estimate she has made of the cost to her Department of fraudulent universal credit claims since the roll-out of universal credit. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Vale of Clwyd more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Chris Ruane more like this
star this property uin 275122 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 2019-07-17more like thismore than 2019-07-17
star this property answer text <p>The Department is open and transparent about the cost of fraud and error in the benefit system, publishing our National “Fraud and Error in the Benefit System” statistics each year which detail the amount we estimate is lost to both fraud and error across all benefits.</p><p> </p><p>The latest publication to Gov.uk was made on 9 May 2019 and contains estimates of fraud and error in Universal Credit. The publication can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fraud-and-error-in-the-benefit-system-financial-year-2018-to-2019-estimates" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fraud-and-error-in-the-benefit-system-financial-year-2018-to-2019-estimates</a></p><p> </p><p>As UC expenditure increases, we would also expect to see an increase in the value of fraud and error. We also expect a further increase as UC involves significantly expanding the Department’s caseload and expenditure to include Tax Credits, which were previously administered by Her Majesty’s Revenue &amp; Customs.</p><p> </p><p>The design of UC is expected to lead to a reduction in overpayments across welfare. UC allows us to adjust benefit entitlement in line with changing circumstances in real time. Internal and external data matches are increasingly helping to inform benefit payments and alerting staff to check for any undeclared changes in people’s circumstances.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Alok Sharma remove filter
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-07-17T13:42:09.117Zmore like thismore than 2019-07-17T13:42:09.117Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
534
unstar this property label Biography information for Chris Ruane more like this
1137865
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-07-09more like thismore than 2019-07-09
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 remove filter
star 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 estimate she has made of the number of fraudulent universal credit loan claims since the roll-out of those loans. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Vale of Clwyd more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Chris Ruane more like this
star this property uin 275123 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 2019-07-17more like thismore than 2019-07-17
star this property answer text <p>Advances are designed to ensure that the most vulnerable claimants receive the money they need to live on during their transition to Universal Credit (UC).</p><p>It is important to make clear that the vast majority of claims to UC Advances are legitimate.</p><p>As at the end of June 2019, potential fraudulent advance claims equate to less than 1 per cent of all Universal Credit claims.</p><p>The Department takes this issue very seriously and will investigate all claims where fraud may have been committed. Indeed, we have set up a dedicated team to investigate this specific type of fraud.</p><p> </p><p>We are also committed to the use of penalties such as prosecutions and tough financial penalties to discourage this fraudulent behaviour.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Alok Sharma remove filter
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-07-17T14:19:07.493Zmore like thismore than 2019-07-17T14:19:07.493Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
534
unstar this property label Biography information for Chris Ruane more like this
1139921
star this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-07-17more like thismore than 2019-07-17
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 remove filter
star 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 proportion of claimants of universal credit that have taken an advance payment have seen payments reduced by (a) up to 20 percent (b) between 21 and 30 per cent, (c) 31 to 40 per cent and (d) over 40 percent of the initial amount in each of the last three years. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Vale of Clwyd more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Chris Ruane more like this
star this property uin 278385 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 2019-07-22more like thismore than 2019-07-22
star this property answer text <p>Universal Credit (UC) new claim advances provide access to a payment for those in financial need, which can be accessed on the same day, until their first UC payment is due. Claimants can access up to 100% of the total expected monthly award, for which they can pay back over a period of up to 12 months.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has taken a number of steps to ensure that advances meet the needs of claimants and that recovery arrangements are personalised and reasonable. The maximum rate of deductions cannot normally exceed 40 per cent of the Universal Credit standard allowance and does not reduce other components of an award, such as money paid for children, housing or when someone is caring for a severely disabled person. From October 2019 this will be reduced to 30 per cent and from October 2021 we are increasing the maximum recovery period for advances from 12 to 16 months.</p><p> </p><p>However, the Government recognises the importance of safeguarding the welfare of claimants who have incurred debt, so last resort deductions can be applied to protect vulnerable claimants from eviction and/or having their fuel supply (gas/electricity) cut off, by providing a last resort repayment method for arrears of these essential services. In these cases, when it is considered to be in the best interests of the claimant and their family, deductions may be taken above the 40 per cent limit.</p><p> </p><p>If a claimant is in financial difficulty as a result of the level of deductions being made they can contact the Department to request that a reduction in deductions be considered.</p><p> </p><p>The latest available data for eligible claims to UC Full Service is provided in table 1:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Table 1</p></td><td colspan="3"><p>Month Payment Due</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Feb-17</p></td><td><p>Feb-18</p></td><td><p>Feb-19</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>%</p></td><td><p>%</p></td><td><p>%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>up to 20 percent of Standard Allowance</p></td><td><p>42%</p></td><td><p>49%</p></td><td><p>47%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>between 21 and 30 per cent of Standard Allowance</p></td><td><p>20%</p></td><td><p>19%</p></td><td><p>18%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>31 to 40 per cent of Standard Allowance</p></td><td><p>35%</p></td><td><p>31%</p></td><td><p>33%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>over 40 percent of Standard Allowance</p></td><td><p>3%</p></td><td><p>1%</p></td><td><p>2%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Notes</p><p>1. The latest month for which data is available is February 2019.</p><p>2. When categorising claims into the groups above, the figures for the percentage of the Standard Allowance for individual claims have been rounded to the nearest percent.</p><p>3. Deductions include advance repayments and all other deductions, but exclude sanctions and fraud penalties which are reductions of benefit rather than deductions.</p><p>4. A claim can have more than one type of deduction applied to a given payment e.g. the total deduction could be the total of both an advance repayment and another deduction type.</p><p>5. Figures are for Universal Credit Full Service only; Universal Credit full service was fully rolled out by the end of 2018.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
unstar this property answering member printed Alok Sharma remove filter
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-07-22T15:03:58.087Zmore like thismore than 2019-07-22T15:03:58.087Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
534
unstar this property label Biography information for Chris Ruane more like this