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1176713

	registered interest
	date	06/02/2020
	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 recent steps she has taken to ensure that universal credit claimants paying rent weekly do not face a one-week shortfall in their UC housing element in 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Aberavon
	tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
	uin	13476
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/02/2020 answer text <p>Neither tenants or landlords lose a week’s rent in a 53 weekly rent payment year as has been alleged; no year contains 53 weeks. The problem is alignment between weekly and monthly cycles. Each month the UC housing element is a constant figure but claimants with weekly tenancy agreements will be required to make either four or five rent payments within this period. If the claimant always pays their rent on time, in five payment months they are effectively making payment for part of the following month. That month will always be a four rent payment month, so the combination of the advance payment and the ‘overpayment’ of housing support during that month will result in the correct amount of housing element being paid.</p><p> </p><p>Where a landlord charges rent weekly on a Monday, because of the way the calendar falls every 5 or 6 years, they will seek 53 rent payments in a year, with the 53rd payment in part covering the tenancy for the first few days of the following year. The effect of this is that, over the course of the next housing association rental year, a tenant’s UC payments will accurately reflect their liability, irrespective of the 53 payment weeks.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 11/02/2020 10:37:53 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

1179459

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2020
	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	Poverty: Children
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many children lived in (a) poverty and (b) extreme poverty in (i) Wales and (ii) Aberavon constituency in each of the last 10 years.
	tabling member constituency	Aberavon
	tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
	uin	18800
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2020 answer text <p>National Statistics on the number of children in low income households are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication.</p><p> </p><p>Statistics for the number of children in low income households are not available at combined Local Authority level in this publication because the survey sample sizes are too small to support the production of robust estimates at this geography.</p><p> </p><p>Statistics for the North West region can be found at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-199495-to-201718" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/households-below-average-income-199495-to-201718</a>, “children-hbai-timeseries-1994-95-2017-18-tables” in tables 4.17ts (for relative low income, before and after housing costs) and 4.23ts (for absolute low income, before and after housing costs).</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/03/2020 14:53:15 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

1179460

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2020
	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: Wales
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of universal credit claimants in (a) Aberavon constituency and (b) Wales have received an advanced payment.
	tabling member constituency	Aberavon
	tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
	uin	18801
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2020 answer text <p>Universal Credit is now the main system of working age welfare support across the country. It is available in every Jobcentre, with a caseload of 2.8 million claimants, growing every month, now able to access the additional support and flexibilities it offers.</p><p> </p><p>New Claim Advances are available to support those in immediate financial need until their first Universal Credit payment is made. Around 60 per cent of new claims take an advance payment. Subject to some fluctuation, this rate of advance take-up has been broadly consistent over the last 12 months. As the overall Universal Credit caseload grows, we expect the volume and value of advance payments to increase in correlation. This shows that claimants are being made aware of advances and are using it where they need this help.</p><p> </p><p>The below table shows the number of claims paid and those who received at least one advance payment in Wales and the Aberavon parliamentary constituency.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Number of paid claims</p></td><td><p>Of which; Have had at least one advance</p></td><td><p>Proportion of claims paid an advance</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wales</p></td><td><p>181,120</p></td><td><p>100,050</p></td><td><p>55%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aberavon parliamentary constituency</p></td><td><p>6,470</p></td><td><p>3,530</p></td><td><p>55%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Notes</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1. Figures relate only to Universal Credit full service, from inception to November 2019 inclusive</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>3. Figures include all types of advances, including advances paid after the first assessment period</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 26/02/2020 17:34:41 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

1179461

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2020
	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, how many universal credit claimants who have received an advanced payment have subsequently reported financial difficulty to their work coach in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Aberavon
	tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
	uin	18802
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2020 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 26/02/2020 14:56:18 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

1179465

	registered interest
	date	21/02/2020
	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: Aberavon
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been paid in back-dated payments to universal credit claimants in Aberavon constituency in each of the last three years.
	tabling member constituency	Aberavon
	tabling member printed	Stephen Kinnock
	uin	18806
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/02/2020 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Department does not centrally collate records of back-dated payments by constituencies.</p><p /> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 26/02/2020 15:11:22 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4359 label Biography information for Stephen Kinnock

1126176

	registered interest
	date	13/05/2019
	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	Poverty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress her Department has made on achieving Sustainable Development Goal 1 to end poverty in all its forms everywhere.
	tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
	tabling member printed	Neil Gray
	uin	253587
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/05/2019 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions is leading work across Government to assess progress against sustainable development goal 1. The Prime Minister has committed the UK to undertaking a Voluntary National Review (VNR) on progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals Agenda. This will be presented to the UN’s High Level Political Forum in July this year.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 21/05/2019 13:14:05 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1146582

	registered interest
	date	26/09/2019
	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	Social Security Benefits: Payments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what comparative assessment she has made of the average length of time for a claimant to receive their first (a) legacy benefit payment and (b) universal credit payment in the each of the last two years.
	tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
	tabling member printed	Neil Gray
	uin	291447
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2019 answer text <p>The design of Universal Credit is fundamentally different to legacy benefits, so any assessment would not reflect this adequately.</p><p> </p><p>The Department published an assessment of legacy benefit and Universal Credit payment timeliness in its Annual Report and Accounts 2018-19. This showed that the speed of Universal Credit payments has continued to improve during its rollout and the Department continues to introduce improvements. Between February 2018 to February 2019 Universal Credit payment timeliness improved with 86% of new claims to Universal Credit receiving full payment on time in February 2019, an increase from 78% in February 2018.</p><p> </p><p>Monthly assessment periods align to the way the majority of employees are paid, and how utility companies and other service providers collect payments. This allows Universal Credit to be adjusted each month, which means that if a claimant’s income falls they will not have to wait several months for a rise in their Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>Overall, Universal Credit provides more tailored support, and makes it more financially rewarding to increase earnings when in employment compared to legacy benefits.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/10/2019 15:55:01 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1146583

	registered interest
	date	26/09/2019
	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	Universal Credit: Payments
	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 households have reduced their expenditure on non-essential items in order to avoid debt while waiting for their first payment of universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
	tabling member printed	Neil Gray
	uin	291448
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2019 answer text <p>For new claimants applying for Universal Credit (UC), new claim advances provide access to a payment for those in financial need, which can be accessed quickly, until their first UC payment is due.</p><p> </p><p>In addition to this, the Department has delivered a number of improvements to support claimants during their first assessment period, such as removing waiting days and paying those claimants moving from Housing Benefit onto Universal Credit a two week ‘transitional housing payment’. We are also introducing a two-week run on for eligible claimants of Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance from July 2020.</p><p> </p><p>For those who need help with budgeting, support is available for Universal Credit claimants via the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS). MaPS will help UC claimants with personal budgeting and money management through its free helpline, printed guides and digital guidance.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/10/2019 15:52:55 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1146584

	registered interest
	date	26/09/2019
	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	Universal Credit: Payments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a policy of backdating universal credit payments.
	tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
	tabling member printed	Neil Gray
	uin	291449
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2019 answer text <p>Under Universal Credit, claims may be backdated, by up to one calendar month, in some circumstances for vulnerable claimants who may be delayed in claiming Universal Credit through no fault of their own. Claims may also be backdated in specific circumstances when a couple separates to ensure that there is no gap in entitlement between the couple claim and the new claim made by a single claimant.</p><p> </p><p>In order to provide the best possible support to our claimants it is important that we are able to have discussions about their claim and circumstances at the earliest possible opportunity, whether to support them back into work or to provide or signpost other support and guidance. It is therefore important that backdating provisions are used in specific circumstances, and that all claimants are encouraged to engage with us at the earliest opportunity.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/10/2019 15:44:06 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1146585

	registered interest
	date	26/09/2019
	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	Universal Credit: Payments
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the effect of ending the five week wait for the first universal credit payment on (a) levels of poverty and (b) the public purse.
	tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
	tabling member printed	Neil Gray
	uin	291450
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/10/2019 answer text <p>Nobody has to wait for five weeks for a payment following an application for Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit new claim advances provide access to a payment for those in financial need, which can be accessed urgently, until their first regular Universal Credit payment is due. 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.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has delivered a number of improvements to support claimants during their first assessment period, such as removing waiting days and paying those claimants moving from Housing Benefit onto Universal Credit a two week ‘transitional housing payment’. We are also introducing a two-week run on for eligible claimants of Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance from July 2020.</p><p> </p><p>Assessment periods align to the way the majority of employees are paid, and how utility companies and other service providers collect payments. This allows Universal Credit to be adjusted each month, which means that if a claimant’s income falls they will not have to wait several months for a rise in their Universal Credit.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 01/10/2019 13:58:32 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray