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1105486
star this property registered interest false more like this
unstar this property date less than 2019-03-27more like thismore than 2019-03-27
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 more like this
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, whether universal credit claimants are able to deduct the tax relief claimed by relief at source pension schemes from their earned income figure to calculate their award of universal credit. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency East Ham more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Stephen Timms more like this
star this property uin 237575 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false remove filter
star this property date of answer less than 2019-06-17more like thismore than 2019-06-17
star this property answer text <p>100% of contributions to employer pension schemes, whether Net or Relief at Source pensions, will be taken into account when calculating the level of employed earnings in UC. This means that a UC claimant that contributes to either type of pension will, automatically (where employers report the information correctly), have their UC entitlement calculated on their taxable pay, after their pension contribution. This ensures fairness for all affected UC employed claimants.</p><p> </p><p>If there is some discrepancy in the way in which it’s reported, DWP will manually ensure that the Relief at Source pension contribution is deducted before any UC entitlement is calculated on their employed earnings.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-17T15:25:05.92Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-17T15:25:05.92Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
unstar this property tabling member
163
unstar this property label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms more like this
1126537
star this property registered interest false more like this
unstar this property date less than 2019-05-14more like thismore than 2019-05-14
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 more like this
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 response her Department makes when notified by a local authority of an error in a resident’s universal credit calculation. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency East Ham more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Stephen Timms more like this
star this property uin 254086 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false remove filter
star this property date of answer less than 2019-06-03more like thismore than 2019-06-03
star this property answer text <p>It is not clear whether the questions relate to the Local Authority as the provider of housing or as the administrator of Housing Benefit and Council Tax. This answer therefore responds on both counts.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Local Authority as landlord:</strong></p><p> </p><p>The Local Authority use the ‘Landlord Portal’ to provide details of a claimant’s rent and tenancy details. When the information provided does not match what the claimant has given, the claimant will then be able to accept or reject the information uploaded by the Local Authority by logging into their Universal Credit account.</p><p> </p><p>If the claimant accepts the information provided by the Local Authority no further action is required. If the Local Authority has provided information that is rejected by the claimant, the claimant is advised to make contact to resolve this. This could require a subsequent housing declaration to be provided. The ‘Landlord Portal’ has a summary screen that allows the Local Authority to confirm or change the information they are about to provide before it has been submitted.</p><p> </p><p>This process applies whenever there is a rent change, including annual uprating of rent. The Landlord Portal is the streamlined communication tool which allows the Local Authority to disclose the rent thus highlighting errors in the claimants Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Local Authority as administrator of Housing Benefit and Council Tax:</strong></p><p> </p><p>Once a claim to Universal Credit has been made, the Local Authority will receive a notification if the claimant is in receipt of Housing Benefit. This will inform the Local Authority of the claim to Universal Credit so they can take the action to close the Housing Benefit claim where needed. The Local Authority will inform Universal Credit of the action they have taken and if there is any payment to be offset within the first assessment period.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, during the Universal Credit claim process, the claimant will be asked if their name is on the council tax bill. If the claimant answers ‘yes’, they are asked if they have applied for a reduction in their council tax. If the claimant answers that they have applied or will apply for a Council Tax Reduction, their details will be shared with the Local Authority. This is a one-way communication which allows for the Local Authority to take the appropriate action regarding an application for a Council Tax Reduction.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property grouped question UIN 254088 more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-03T13:09:40.307Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-03T13:09:40.307Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property previous answer version
119078
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
unstar this property tabling member
163
unstar this property label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms more like this
1126539
star this property registered interest false more like this
unstar this property date less than 2019-05-14more like thismore than 2019-05-14
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 more like this
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 support her Department provides to local authorities to help (a) identify and (b) remedy errors in universal credit calculations. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency East Ham more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Stephen Timms more like this
star this property uin 254088 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false remove filter
star this property date of answer less than 2019-06-03more like thismore than 2019-06-03
star this property answer text <p>It is not clear whether the questions relate to the Local Authority as the provider of housing or as the administrator of Housing Benefit and Council Tax. This answer therefore responds on both counts.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Local Authority as landlord:</strong></p><p> </p><p>The Local Authority use the ‘Landlord Portal’ to provide details of a claimant’s rent and tenancy details. When the information provided does not match what the claimant has given, the claimant will then be able to accept or reject the information uploaded by the Local Authority by logging into their Universal Credit account.</p><p> </p><p>If the claimant accepts the information provided by the Local Authority no further action is required. If the Local Authority has provided information that is rejected by the claimant, the claimant is advised to make contact to resolve this. This could require a subsequent housing declaration to be provided. The ‘Landlord Portal’ has a summary screen that allows the Local Authority to confirm or change the information they are about to provide before it has been submitted.</p><p> </p><p>This process applies whenever there is a rent change, including annual uprating of rent. The Landlord Portal is the streamlined communication tool which allows the Local Authority to disclose the rent thus highlighting errors in the claimants Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Local Authority as administrator of Housing Benefit and Council Tax:</strong></p><p> </p><p>Once a claim to Universal Credit has been made, the Local Authority will receive a notification if the claimant is in receipt of Housing Benefit. This will inform the Local Authority of the claim to Universal Credit so they can take the action to close the Housing Benefit claim where needed. The Local Authority will inform Universal Credit of the action they have taken and if there is any payment to be offset within the first assessment period.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, during the Universal Credit claim process, the claimant will be asked if their name is on the council tax bill. If the claimant answers ‘yes’, they are asked if they have applied for a reduction in their council tax. If the claimant answers that they have applied or will apply for a Council Tax Reduction, their details will be shared with the Local Authority. This is a one-way communication which allows for the Local Authority to take the appropriate action regarding an application for a Council Tax Reduction.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property grouped question UIN 254086 more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-03T13:09:40.383Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-03T13:09:40.383Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property previous answer version
119077
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
unstar this property tabling member
163
unstar this property label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms more like this
1126933
star this property registered interest false more like this
unstar this property date less than 2019-05-15more like thismore than 2019-05-15
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 more like this
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 penalties universal credit claimants incur if they are unable to repay their advance within 12 months. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Birmingham, Selly Oak more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Steve McCabe more like this
star this property uin 254729 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false remove filter
star this property date of answer less than 2019-05-24more like thismore than 2019-05-24
star this property answer text <p>Before accepting a Universal Credit Advance the number of monthly repayment instalments is agreed with a claimant, up to a maximum of 12. For a variety of reasons, instalments may not occur consecutively, so claimants do not incur a penalty if it takes them more than 12 calendar 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> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-05-24T12:02:18.013Zmore like thismore than 2019-05-24T12:02:18.013Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
unstar this property tabling member
298
unstar this property label Biography information for Steve McCabe more like this
1126934
star this property registered interest false more like this
unstar this property date less than 2019-05-15more like thismore than 2019-05-15
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 more like this
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 13 May to Question 249845, what proportion of universal credit claimants who had not fully repaid their advance as of 5 May 2019 had taken out that advance prior to 5 November 2018. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Birmingham, Selly Oak more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Steve McCabe more like this
star this property uin 254730 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false remove filter
star this property date of answer less than 2019-05-23more like thismore than 2019-05-23
star this property answer text <p>The latest available data shows there were 610,000 claimants who had not fully repaid a Universal Credit Advance which had been taken out prior to 5 November 2018. This equates to around 40% of the total claimants with a Universal Credit Advance.</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><ol><li>Data is a snapshot of information held on 15 May 2019 and has been rounded to the nearest ten thousand.</li><li>Many Universal Credit advances are taken out over a 12-month repayment period, so this snapshot of data includes cases where repayments are being made to the agreed timeline.</li><li>This data has been sourced from internal management information and due to the time available, has not been quality assured to the usual standards for public release. It should therefore not be compared to any other similar data subsequently released by the Department.</li></ol> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-05-23T16:28:49.52Zmore like thismore than 2019-05-23T16:28:49.52Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
unstar this property tabling member
298
unstar this property label Biography information for Steve McCabe more like this
1126937
star this property registered interest false more like this
unstar this property date less than 2019-05-15more like thismore than 2019-05-15
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 more like this
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 8 May to Question 249846, whether she has made an assessment of the feasibility of a claimant living with a 40 per cent reduction in their universal credit payment; and if she will make a statement. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Birmingham, Selly Oak more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Steve McCabe more like this
star this property uin 254732 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false remove filter
star this property date of answer less than 2019-05-24more like thismore than 2019-05-24
star this property answer text <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 of standard allowance and from October 2021 we are increasing the maximum recovery period for advances from 12 to 16 months.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-05-24T13:07:43.513Zmore like thismore than 2019-05-24T13:07:43.513Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
unstar this property tabling member
298
unstar this property label Biography information for Steve McCabe more like this
1126941
star this property registered interest false more like this
unstar this property date less than 2019-05-15more like thismore than 2019-05-15
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 more like this
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 5 May 2019 to Question 249847, what assessment of a universal credit claimant’s financial situation is made when calculating what percentage of their payment will be deducted in order to repay an advance. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Birmingham, Selly Oak more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Steve McCabe more like this
star this property uin 254734 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false remove filter
star this property date of answer less than 2019-06-03more like thismore than 2019-06-03
star this property answer text <p>The maximum amount a claimant can receive as a new claim advance payment is 100 per cent of their total indicative Universal Credit award. The claimant can decide the length of repayment period when they request the advance. This can be up to a maximum 12 months. The rate of repayment is decided by dividing the total advance amount by the agreed repayment period.</p><p>Affordability is managed by ensuring the recovery rate is not more than the equivalent of 40 per cent of the standard allowance and help is available for those struggling to meet the recovery rate once recovery begins. In many cases, because claimants choose to repay advances over many months, advance repayments constitute less than 40% of a standard allowance. In exceptional circumstances, recovery can be deferred for up to 3 months from the start of the recovery period.</p><p>Advances are not loans; they are an interest free advance payment of benefit, available to help people who need immediate financial support, which is then recovered over an agreed period. 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>
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-03T13:51:25.467Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-03T13:51:25.467Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property previous answer version
119076
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
unstar this property tabling member
298
unstar this property label Biography information for Steve McCabe more like this
1127131
star this property registered interest false more like this
unstar 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 Unemployment Benefits more like this
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, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of waiving the recommencement of waiting times for the receipt of out-of-work benefits after the completion of a short-term contract; and if she will make a statement. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Birkenhead more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Frank Field more like this
star this property uin 255281 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false remove filter
star this property date of answer less than 2019-05-24more like thismore than 2019-05-24
star this property answer text <p>Short-term contracts where earnings are above the relevant threshold would lead to the closure of a claim to benefit. Once this short-term contract has ended, Universal Credit can be claimed.</p><p> </p><p>The Universal Credit assessment period and payment structure are fundamental parts of the design. They help reduce welfare dependency by mirroring the world of work, where currently around 70 per cent of tax credit claimants are paid monthly or four weekly.</p><p> </p><p>The assessment period runs for a full calendar month from the date of entitlement and the Universal Credit pay date will be seven calendar days after the end of the initial assessment period. Subsequent pay dates will be the same each month.</p><p> </p><p>It is therefore not possible to award a Universal Credit payment as soon as a claim is made, as the assessment period must run its course before the award of Universal Credit can be calculated.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>No claimant has to go five weeks without receiving support, as advances, worth up to 100 per cent of a claimant’s indicative award, are available up front if there is need.</p>
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-05-24T13:15:20.623Zmore like thismore than 2019-05-24T13:15:20.623Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
unstar this property tabling member
478
unstar this property label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead more like this
1127504
star this property registered interest false more like this
unstar this property date less than 2019-05-20more like thismore than 2019-05-20
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 Social Security Benefits: Disqualification more like this
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 assessment she has made of the potential merits of a moratorium on benefit sanctions for (a) low-income and (b) single-unit families during the school summer holidays. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Bermondsey and Old Southwark more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Neil Coyle more like this
star this property uin 256326 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false remove filter
star this property date of answer less than 2019-05-29more like thismore than 2019-05-29
star this property answer text <p>The Department works to design and deliver a compassionate approach that supports claimants on Universal Credit and other benefits.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has not made an assessment of the potential merits of a moratorium on benefit sanctions during the school summer holidays for a) low-income and (b) single-unit families, as we are in the process of reviewing the effect of sanctions on work incentives.</p><p> </p><p>There are a number of measures designed to help the claimant’s financial situation. Hardship payments are available to eligible claimants who will face hardship as a result of a sanction. Additionally, we have recently announced that the length of the maximum single sanction any benefit claimant could face will be reduced from three years to six months.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-05-29T11:06:30.33Zmore like thismore than 2019-05-29T11:06:30.33Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
unstar this property tabling member
4368
unstar this property label Biography information for Neil Coyle more like this
1127548
star this property registered interest false more like this
unstar this property date less than 2019-05-20more like thismore than 2019-05-20
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 more like this
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 recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the timeframe for fixing problems with GOV.UK Verify in respect of universal credit claims. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Luke Pollard more like this
star this property uin 256351 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false remove filter
star this property date of answer less than 2019-05-29more like thismore than 2019-05-29
star this property answer text <p>Design and delivery of the GOV.UK Verify platform is the responsibility of the Government Digital Service (GDS) and its partners. The Department for Work and Pensions, along with other government departments is a user of this service, and provides feedback to GDS about its operation, recognising that people wanting to claim Universal Credit, or check their State Pension, can choose to use it to confirm their identity. The Department has no access to this information and claimants have direct contact with identity providers (also called ‘certified companies’).</p><p> </p><p>The Department will continue to consider options to provide the easiest and most secure digital services for our claimants.</p><p /><p>There are various ways in which a claimant can verify their identity for Universal Credit purposes: in person using primary and secondary ID verification or; by using biographical questions, for those who do not have identity documents.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-05-29T11:54:13.963Zmore like thismore than 2019-05-29T11:54:13.963Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
unstar this property tabling member
4682
unstar this property label Biography information for Luke Pollard more like this