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1144599

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2019
	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	Personal Income
	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 change in the level of household income with two people in employment in 2019 and 2009.
	tabling member constituency	Strangford
	tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
	uin	286750
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Estimates for the net median equivalised weekly household income after housing costs of UK couples in employment where both are in work are presented below, for 2009/10 and 2017/2018 in both nominal and real terms (2017/18 prices).</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2009/10</p></td><td><p>2017/18</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nominal terms</p></td><td><p>£560</p></td><td><p>£561</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>CPI-adjusted real terms</p></td><td><p>£470</p></td><td><p>£561</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>These figures have been taken from the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) survey tables from Stat-Xplore and are rounded to the nearest pound. Stat-Xplore data is publicly available at the link below:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/tableView/tableView.xhtml" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/tableView/tableView.xhtml#</a></p><p>We do not have available data to 2019 and so have used the most recent data available which is to 2017/18.</p><p>Analysis by the Institute for Fiscal Studies has shown that the reason there have not been higher increases in average incomes in working households is partly due to increases in employment over this period. They state that “falls in worklessness have brought relatively low-earning types of households (such as lone parents) into work”. A link to the report is available below:</p><p><a href="https://www.ifs.org.uk/uploads/WP201912.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.ifs.org.uk/uploads/WP201912.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 11:00:07 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1144793

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons her Department has decided that a 30 per cent deduction from a universal credit claimant’s standard allowance prevents those claimants from being exposed to excessive financial hardship.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	286621
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>A claimant’s Universal Credit award will reflect individual circumstances, topping up any earnings or other income that they may have, so Universal Credit may constitute only a proportion of their total income.</p><p> </p><p>Our deductions policy is designed to protect vulnerable claimants by providing a last resort method for arrears of essential services which might otherwise result in those services being cut off, or being evicted from their home. Under Universal Credit there is a structured approach to deductions from benefit, which simplifies the current complex arrangements of the legacy system. This policy also enables social obligations to be enforced when other repayment methods have failed or are not cost effective.</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. Any adjustment to the rate of repayment will be based on the individual circumstances of the claimant. To support this intention, 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> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 15:54:55 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1144796

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what information her Department holds on reductions to deductions for claimants of universal credit in latest period for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	286623
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 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 09/09/2019 13:38:08 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1144811

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of the delivery of data via the Data Hub since the introduction of universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Dunfermline and West Fife
	tabling member printed	Douglas Chapman
	uin	286784
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>The Data Hub is a secure mechanism for sharing data with local authorities not only for Universal Credit purposes, but for wider data share requirements across central and local Government and has been effective in doing so.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has plans to iterate and enhance the current data shared in the future and are working with local authority colleagues to support this.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 10:54:46 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4402 label Biography information for Douglas Chapman

1144842

	registered interest
	date	04/09/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of access by universal credit claimants to organisations providing services to manage money in each area served by a job centre.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	286629
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Jobcentre staff have access to information on services and support available in their local area for claimants and will signpost claimants to national and local organisations who provide specialist debt and money management support.</p><p>In addition, 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><p>For those UC claimants who are in most need of debt advice, MaPS will continue to work with the DWP and other agencies to ensure that they are signposted and referred quickly to local provision – MaPS funds free-to-consumer debt advice in England through a network of providers including StepChange, the Money Advice Trust and Citizens Advice.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 13:48:58 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1144346

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2019
	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, whether her Department plans to recalculate universal credit payments to take account of recipients who are required to make 53 rent payments in a year.
	tabling member constituency	Hyndburn
	tabling member printed	Graham P Jones
	uin	286189
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 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 get the claimant back on track.</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><p>There is a separate issue with respect to the way the calculation in the Universal Credit regulations converts a weekly liability into a monthly allowance. The conversion is achieved by multiplying the weekly rent by 52 and then dividing by 12. This effectively means one day’s rent a year (two days in a leap years) are not covered by UC. We are currently considering whether this formulation around weekly rents, and potentially other weekly amounts in the UC calculation, should be amended.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 12:45:52 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3999 label Biography information for Graham P Jones

1144364

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the proportion of social security claimants who will receive less money once they have migrated to universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
	tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
	uin	286277
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Comparisons between entitlement in legacy benefits and Universal Credit fail to reflect that, until recently, people only claimed Universal Credit as a result of a change in their circumstances.</p><p>It is important to remember that there are £2.4 billion of unclaimed benefits not going to the people who need them because they are unaware of how to claim, or that they may be entitled. Universal Credit makes sure that welfare payments reach those who need them most, and when we complete moving legacy benefit claimants over to Universal Credit, an estimated 700,000 more people will get paid their full entitlement because of Universal Credit.</p><p>The Government have committed to spending in excess of £3 billion over 10 years on transitional protection for 1.1 million households. This will help fund assistance for those moving from Housing Benefit to Universal Credit including 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><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 10:47:37 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1144372

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2019
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what options her Department is considering to reduce the five week waiting time for universal credit claimants.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	286082
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Nobody has to wait for five weeks for a payment following an application for Universal Credit (UC).</p><p> </p><p>UC new claim advances provide access to a payment for those in financial need, which can be accessed urgently, until their first regular 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 UC 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>This is just one of a number of measures the Department has put in place to support claimants such as paying those claimants moving from Housing Benefit to UC 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> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 15:32:16 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1144373

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2019
	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	Local Housing Allowance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has been made of the affordability of (a) one and (b) two bedroom properties for Local Housing Allowance claimants in each region of England and Wales.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	286083
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>The proportion of private market rents that are at or below the LHA rate for (a) one and (b) two bedroom accommodation for each region in England and Wales are set out below. This is based on:</p><ul><li>2019/20 LHA rates published here <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-housing-allowance-lha-rates-applicable-from-april-2019-to-march-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-housing-allowance-lha-rates-applicable-from-april-2019-to-march-2020</a></li></ul><ul><li>Valuation Office Agency data <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-housing-allowance-list-of-rents" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-housing-allowance-list-of-rents</a></li></ul><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>1 Bed</p></td><td><p>2 Bed</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>East Midlands</p></td><td><p>17%</p></td><td><p>17%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Eastern</p></td><td><p>9%</p></td><td><p>9%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London</p></td><td><p>7%</p></td><td><p>7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North East</p></td><td><p>26%</p></td><td><p>25%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>North West</p></td><td><p>23%</p></td><td><p>22%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South East</p></td><td><p>10%</p></td><td><p>10%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>South West</p></td><td><p>14%</p></td><td><p>14%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>West Midlands</p></td><td><p>16%</p></td><td><p>14%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Yorks &amp; the Humber</p></td><td><p>20%</p></td><td><p>21%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Wales</p></td><td><p>22%</p></td><td><p>22%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 15:43:34 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1142685

	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	Universal Credit: Appeals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many times her Department has requested that HM Courts and Tribunals Service provide an extension to a deadline for a universal credit appeal in the last six months.
	tabling member constituency	Glenrothes
	tabling member printed	Peter Grant
	uin	284155
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The Department does not collect information on the number of extensions to a deadline requested to HM Courts and Tribunals Service for Universal Credit appeals.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2019 11:54:37 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4466 label Biography information for Peter Grant

1142871

	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Written Questions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to respond to Question 270706 on social security benefits, tabled by the hon. Member for Birkenhead on 27 June 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	284380
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying to this question. I can confirm that a response has now been issued.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/09/2019 13:41:55 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1142960

	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	Universal Credit: Appeals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average time taken is for her Department to respond to universal credit appeals.
	tabling member constituency	Glenrothes
	tabling member printed	Peter Grant
	uin	284217
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 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 05/09/2019 12:01:23 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4466 label Biography information for Peter Grant

1143077

	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	Working Links
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions officials of her Department have had with their counterparts in the Ministry of Justice on the correspondence entitled Working Links: Ministerial direction confirmation letter from the Secretary of State for Justice, published on 8 May 2019; and if she will introduce similar financial protections for permitted subcontractors as set out in that correspondence to her Department’s Working Links subcontractors.
	tabling member constituency	Gateshead
	tabling member printed	Ian Mearns
	uin	284751
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>DWP Commercial have had discussions with MOJ colleagues to clarify the MOJ Ministerial direction correspondence published on 8 May 2019.</p><p>The MOJ are making payments to a small number of Permitted Sub Contractors on the basis of a) the unique nature of their services (statutory services) and b) the structure of their current market in the context of the transformation announced on 16 May 2019.</p><p>The Department considered the impact on stakeholders and sub-contractors, based on the Administrator’s statement of affairs at the point of Working Links going into administration, and has worked with both the Administrator and Fedcap, who have taken over a number of Working Links contracts, to minimise the impact on those supply chain partners owed monies by Working Links at the point of administration.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2019 13:31:53 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4000 label Biography information for Ian Mearns

1143137

	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	Support for Mortgage Interest
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Support for Mortgage Interest loans are attached to current universal Credit claims.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	284578
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>Some homeowners in receipt of Universal Credit, along with other qualifying benefits, may be able to get help towards interest payments on their mortgage or loans taken out for certain repairs and improvements to their home. This help is called Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI). Assistance is paid as a loan normally paid direct to the lender, which needs to be repaid with interest when a home is sold or ownership is transferred.</p><p> </p><p>There were 450 households on Universal Credit on 13th June 2019 that were in receipt of SMI loan payments.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Note:</strong></p><ol><li>Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10.</li></ol> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/09/2019 13:28:48 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1143138

	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	Support for Mortgage Interest
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Support for Mortgage Interest Loans have been repaid since April 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	284563
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Since 1 April 2018 there have been 647 Support for Mortgage Interest Loans repaid in Great Britain and 36 have been repaid in Northern Ireland.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 11:08:14 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1143275

	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	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 steps her Department is taking to ensure that universal credit claimants are aware of how assessment periods are calculated prior to application.
	tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
	tabling member printed	Martyn Day
	uin	284759
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>The amount of Universal Credit paid to claimants reflects, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period.</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>The Department publishes a guide for claimants which tells them how Universal Credit works, including assessment periods.</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/807855/uc-and-you-v16.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/807855/uc-and-you-v16.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Department also publishes more specific guidance for claimants about how different earning patterns affect Universal Credit.</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles</a></p><p> </p><p>We continually review Universal Credit using feedback from claimants and stakeholders to inform further improvements to the service.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/09/2019 10:10:50 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1143324

	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	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 she has made an estimate of the number of claimants of universal credit that have fallen into (a) council tax and (b) local authority rent arrears after transitioning from legacy benefits.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
	tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
	uin	284560
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>We have not made an assessment of this nature, we do not hold the data requested for council tax arrears and any change in rent arrears is not solely attributed to Universal Credit.</p><p>The initial analytical work we have carried out with a single housing provider suggests that many tenants are arriving on Universal Credit with pre-existing rent arrears, supporting research carried out by the National Federation of ALMOs which shows over three quarters of their tenants come onto Universal Credit with pre-existing rent arrears. It also shows that arrears tend to increase prior to making a claim for Universal Credit, and that Universal Credit actually appears to be helping to clear arrears over time. We are currently extending this analysis to include a number of housing providers. It will be published when completed.</p><p> </p><p>We have responded to concerns in this area by putting a number of safeguards in place – 100 per cent advances repayable over 12 months, increasing to 16 months in October 2021; a two-week transition to Universal Credit Housing Payment; a new Help to Claim service; and Managed Payment to Landlord Arrangements, which allow for payments direct to the landlord if the tenant is likely to have difficulty in managing their rent payments, is unlikely to pay their rent or is in rent arrears equivalent to two months.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 11:17:21 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

1143328

	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	Universal Credit: Northern Ireland
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will place copies of Departmental documents which assess the impact of fortnightly payments of universal credit on claimants in Northern Ireland in the Library.
	tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
	tabling member printed	Frank Field
	uin	284639
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Social security matters are the responsibility of the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.</p><p> </p><p>A number of Universal Credit flexibilities, including twice monthly payments, were agreed as part of the Fresh Start Agreement to allow the Department for Communities to deliver Universal Credit differently from the way it is delivered in GB, and responsibility for evaluating the effectiveness of those flexibilities rests with them.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Communities plan to complete a composite evaluation of Welfare Reform in Northern Ireland. Once complete this will be placed in the House of Commons Library.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 12:51:17 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1143369

	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	Universal Credit: Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people under 21 years old have claimed housing support entitlement as part of universal credit since the ending of means testing for that component in March 2018.
	tabling member constituency	Hyndburn
	tabling member printed	Graham P Jones
	uin	284834
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The housing costs element, in line with all other elements in Universal Credit, has always been subject to means testing for all Universal Credit claimants.</p><p>Numbers of people under 21 years claiming housing support entitlement as part of Universal Credit since March 2018 is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2019 09:53:30 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3999 label Biography information for Graham P Jones

1143378

	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	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 discussions she has had with local authority leaders on the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on the level of demand for councils’ Local Welfare Provision schemes.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
	tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
	uin	284844
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has regular contact with a range of partner organisations concerning Universal Credit including representatives from local government.</p><p>The reforms to the Social Fund in 2013 allowed local authorities in England and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales to deliver their own local provision for people who are in need of urgent help. Local authorities are best placed to decide how to target flexible help to support local welfare needs.</p><p>We passed funding over to local authorities and devolved administrations from April 2013. This gave them maximum flexibility to deliver services as they see fit according to local needs.</p><p>New Burdens funding has been provided to councils to cover additional costs associated with Universal Credit. In 2017/18 the Department paid £13m in New Burdens funding and paid £14m in New Burdens for 2018/19. Last year we worked with a number of Local Authorities to refresh these costs resulting in £18m in New Burdens being paid in 2019/20. 67 Local Authorities received a total of £4.7m in extra payments to recognise alleged additional costs caused in the early stages of roll out.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 15:40:52 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

1143504

	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	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of reduced allowances for universal credit claimants who are under 25 years old on the financial wellbeing of those claimants.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	285284
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The lower standard allowance rates for Universal Credit claimants who are under the age of 25 years reflects that they are more likely to live in someone else's household, have lower living costs, and have lower earnings expectations. It also reinforces the stronger work incentives that Universal Credit creates for this age group. Qualifying claimants can also receive separate elements to provide support for housing costs, children and childcare costs and support for disabled people and carers.</p><p> </p><p>People claiming Universal Credit move into work faster, stay in work longer and spend more time looking to increase their earnings. It provides more financial help with childcare costs (eligible claimants are able to claim up to 85 per cent of their childcare costs, compared to 70% on the legacy system), a dedicated Work Coach, and removes the 16-hour ‘cliff edge’ for those who are working.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2019 14:53:59 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1143585

	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	Universal Credit: Support for Mortgage Interest
	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 effect of the restriction on earned income for eligibility for support for mortgage interest under universal credit on the incentive to work.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	285016
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The earned income rule for help with mortgage interest on Universal Credit ensures that owner occupier claimants have the right incentives to move into work and increase their hours of work over time where possible.</p><p>Universal Credit’s income taper, along with work allowances for qualifying claimants, ensure a strong work incentive is maintained. For certain owner occupiers, the withdrawal of support for mortgage interest means they qualify for the higher work allowance, and so they could earn up to £503 before there is any effect on their Universal Credit award.</p><p>My Department has made no formal assessment of the effect of the rule on work incentives.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2019 09:40:59 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1143586

	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	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 claimants of universal credit were (a) employed and (b) unemployed as at 15 August 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	285260
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The latest available information as at July 2019 on the number of people on Universal Credit by Employment Indicator is published and can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a>.</p><p>Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2019 09:35:52 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1143587

	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	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the ability of universal credit claimants to access passported benefits.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	285018
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>Claimants may currently be entitled to a number of other benefits because they are in receipt of Universal Credit. These are known as passported benefits, which include free school meals and free prescriptions. The eligibility criteria for each passported benefit remain the responsibility of the Departments and Devolved Administrations that own them.</p><p> </p><p>Government Departments and Devolved Administrations continue to work closely together to look at how to reduce the complexity of the current passported benefits system and put in place arrangements for Universal Credit, as it expands, that will continue to target available support at those who need it most.</p><p> </p><p>The Department currently signposts Universal Credit households to other financial support via their online account/payment statement, as well as on the GOV.UK website at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-support" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-support</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/09/2019 10:21:46 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1143589

	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	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 discussions she has had with the Social Security Advisory Committee on the requirement for national advice organisations to receive explicit consent from a claimant to assist with their universal credit claims.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	285019
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>The most recent discussions with SSAC took place on 12<sup>th</sup> July 2019 and 21<sup>st</sup> August 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is continuing to work with SSAC and third party organisations to understand how Universal Credit can support organisations who help our claimants.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/09/2019 13:32:05 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1143775

	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	Universal Credit: Appeals
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department plans to lodge an appeal against the High Court decision by Lord Justice Singh and Mr Justice Lewis in relation to her Department wrongly interpreting universal credit regulations for assessment of pay cycles.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	285027
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The Court judgment affects a small number of people on Universal Credit, with specific characteristics. The Department is currently appealing this judgment, and as such will await the outcome of that process before taking any further action. The amount of Universal Credit paid to claimants reflects, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2019 15:20:35 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1143790

	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	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 he she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the repayment period for universal credit advance payments beyond twelve months.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
	tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
	uin	285236
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit new claim advances provide access to a payment for those in financial need, which can be accessed urgently, 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>The Department more broadly wants to ensure that vulnerable claimants receive the financial support they need, which is why we announced the addition of SDP payments. By August 29th, we had already paid over 6,300 claims, which together are worth over £16 million.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 12:58:37 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

1143796

	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	Universal Credit: Housing
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to introduce details of the calculation of (a) housing costs, (b) LHA limits, (c) spare bedroom deductions and (d) non-dependent contributions in Universal Credit Full Service payment statements.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	285438
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The Department is expecting to include the information mentioned in the Universal Credit statement by this Autumn. We will also include shared accommodation rates and rent free weeks when appropriate.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2019 10:01:01 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1143797

	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	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 estimate her Department has made of the length of time taken to respond to journal messages submitted by claimants of universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Slough
	tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
	uin	285059
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit is a 24 hour, seven days a week, digital service that allows claimants to manage their own data and account online at a time which is convenient for them. Via their account, claimants can check their Universal Credit benefit payments through their account, notify us of changes and record notes on the online journal facility.</p><p>The journal is primarily used to support work search activity and as such not every journal entry will require a response.</p><p>The Case Manager or Work Coach receives a notification in real time each time a claimant submits an entry to their online journal. Journal entries are monitored daily as part of our case management approach.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2019 13:10:26 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1143805

	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	Sleeping Rough
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many local authority applicants there have been to the Cold Weather Fund since November 2018; how much money has been awarded from that fund; and what the average amount was that was awarded to applicants.
	tabling member constituency	Wentworth and Dearne
	tabling member printed	John Healey
	uin	285208
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>The number of eligible recipients for Cold Weather Payments in areas which have had a cold weather trigger since 1<sup>st</sup> November 2018 is estimated at 882,000. An estimated £27,100,000 was paid, and Cold Weather Payments are fixed at £25.</p><p> </p><p>These figures are based on estimates published in <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cold-weather-payment-estimates-2018-to-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cold-weather-payment-estimates-2018-to-2019,</a> though figures in the publication may not sum to the above figures due to rounding.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/09/2019 13:25:25 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	400 label Biography information for John Healey

1141984

	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	Social Security Benefits: Telephone Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of recording all calls from benefits claimants to ensure that complaints can be followed up.
	tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
	tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
	uin	282395
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The Department acknowledges the merit and does record inbound calls to DWP’s helplines in order to make improvements to service and follow-up on any complaints received.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2019 13:32:44 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

1142066

	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	Welfare Assistance Schemes: Yorkshire and the Humber
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which local authorities in (a) Yorkshire and (b) Humberside have local welfare assistance schemes in place.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	282353
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>We do not hold information on delivery of local welfare assistance schemes.</p><p> </p><p>The reforms to the Social Fund in 2013 allowed local authorities in England and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales to deliver their own local provision for people who are in need of urgent help. We passed funding over to them (from April 2013) on a non ring-fenced basis with no statutory duties or monitoring requirements attached, giving maximum flexibility to deliver services as they see fit according to local needs.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2019 14:12:13 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1142104

	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, what steps her Department has taken to implement the High Court judgment in R (Woods, Barrett and Stewart) v SSWP CO/1552/2018 case of 11 January 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
	tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
	uin	282453
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 June 2019 to Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2019-06-18/266261/" target="_blank">266261</a>.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 13:36:34 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

1141694

	registered interest
	date	24/07/2019
	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	Local Housing Allowance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of lifting the freeze on local housing allowance to ensure that it covers at least the cheapest third of rents to improve housing security.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Paul Farrelly
	uin	281640
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>There are no current plans to extend or maintain the Benefit Freeze after March 2020. Specific decisions on how to uprate the Local Housing Allowance from April 2020 will form part of the discussions in support of fiscal events later this year.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 14:34:01 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1436 label Biography information for Paul Farrelly

1141847

	registered interest
	date	24/07/2019
	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	Parents: Low Incomes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a comparative assessment of the proportion of parents in low income families who are (a) out of work and (b) in part-time work (i) during the school summer holidays and (ii) at all other times in the school year.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	281571
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>National statistics on the proportion of parents in low income families who are (a) out of work or (b) in part time work are published annually in the “Households Before Average Income” publication. These statistics are not possible to break down by distinct periods of the year.</p><p> </p><p>The statistics can be found using the link below, with the statistics for relative low income found in table 5.5ts, and the statistics for absolute low income found in table 5.8ts, both in the file “workingage-hbai-timeseries-1994-95-2017-18-tables”.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/792784/hbai-2017-2018-tables-ods-files.zip" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/792784/hbai-2017-2018-tables-ods-files.zip</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2019 13:55:46 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1141268

	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	Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of reports that people who are paid on the last day of the month are incorrectly showing on the HMRC database as having been paid on the first working day of the month on the ability of her Department to correctly assess an individual’s entitlement to benefits; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Portsmouth South
	tabling member printed	Stephen Morgan
	uin	281024
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit takes earnings into account in a way that is fair and transparent. The amount of Universal Credit paid reflects, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period, including any earnings reported by the employer during the assessment period, regardless of when they were paid, or which month they relate to.</p><p>Assessment periods allow for Universal Credit awards to be adjusted on a monthly basis, ensuring that if claimants’ incomes fall, they do not have to wait several months for a rise in their Universal Credit award.</p><p>Claimants can discuss queries about how fluctuating income effects Universal Credit with their case managers and work coaches, who can also signpost to services appropriate to individual circumstances.</p><p>The Department has been working closely with HMRC since Universal Credit went live to support and inform employers who report earnings to emphasise the importance of timely reporting via the Real Time Information (RTI) system.</p><p>HMRC have updated their guidance to reiterate to employers the importance of reporting accurate dates and the impact on payment cycles; the Financial Secretary to the Treasury is also working closely with HMRC and employers to do this.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 14:24:24 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4653 label Biography information for Stephen Morgan

1141279

	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	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 estimate he has made of the proportion of universal credit claimants that have had a deduction as a result of arrears to their (a) first, (b) second, (c) third, (d) fourth, (e) fifth and (f) sixth universal credit payment in the most recent period for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	280971
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>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 table below gives the proportion of claims in the first to sixth assessment periods, for which a deduction was taken relating to arrears in February 2019, the latest month which data is available for.  <strong>  </strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Assessment Period</p></td><td><p>% with arrears deductions</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>1</p></td><td><p>1.7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2</p></td><td><p>3.1%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>3</p></td><td><p>4.3%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>4</p></td><td><p>5.1%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>5</p></td><td><p>6.1%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>6</p></td><td><p>6.7%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong>Notes</strong></p><p>1. Figures relate to Universal Credit full service.</p><p>2. Figures are rounded to the nearest per cent.</p><p>3. Figures included arrears for gas, electric, water, rent and service charges</p><p>4. We would expect to see overall amount increasing as the caseload and number of claims with deductions increase, but the average over that time also decreases.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 15:52:39 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1141281

	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	Universal Credit: Greater London
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 15 May 2019 to Question 224493, how much has been deducted from universal credit claimants' standard allowance in (a) the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and (b) Poplar and Limehouse constituency in each month since April 2017.
	tabling member constituency	Poplar and Limehouse
	tabling member printed	Jim Fitzpatrick
	uin	280902
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The attached table shows the amount deducted from Universal Credit claims in (a) the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and (b) the Poplar and Limehouse parliamentary constituency in each month since April 2017 to May 2019, which is the latest month that data is available for.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 16:36:28 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince attachment 1 file name PQ280902 data.xlsx title 280902 data
	tabling member	197 label Biography information for Jim Fitzpatrick

1140906

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2019
	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	Children: Maintenance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on how many occasions her Department has registered the child maintenance debt of a non-resident parent with credit rating agencies.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	280279
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2019 answer text <p>This information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 279455 question first answered 29/07/2019 14:18:24 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1140909

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2019
	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	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 her Department's criteria is for registering the child maintenance debt of a non-resident parent with credit rating agencies.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	280280
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2019 answer text <p>This information is provided in our internal procedures. It is a discretionary decision and intended as a deterrent measure on those who may otherwise choose to evade maintenance payments, so getting more money flowing to the children and separated parents who need it.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>We can consider referral to a Credit Reference Agency (CRA) in the following circumstance:</p><ul><li>when a Liability Order is in force against the non-resident</li><li>21 days (plus postage timing and 2 days) have passed since a written notice was posted to the Paying Parent advising them that we intend to supply information about them to a CRA</li><li>the welfare of the child has been considered</li><li>the Paying Parent has not agreed to a payment agreement where the outstanding amount will be repaid in line with our debt steer, of 2 years</li></ul> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 29/07/2019 11:06:25 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1140921

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2019
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to Written Question 265470 on Department for Work and Pensions: Pay, how much her Department spent on performance-related awards for Senior Civil Service officials in (a) 2014, (b) 2015, (c) 2016, (d) 2017, (e) 2018 and (f) January to June 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	280191
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2019 answer text <p>Performance-related end year awards are given following the end of each appraisal year, which runs from 1 April to 31 March.</p><p> </p><p>From April 2016 Senior Civil Servants also became eligible for non-consolidated in-year performance awards to recognise outstanding contribution.</p><p> </p><p>Awards have not yet been made for the 2018/19 performance year; the total amounts paid out in end-year and in-year awards for the earlier periods requested are shown below.</p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Performance Years</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total Spend on Performance Related Awards for SCS in DWP </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014-15</p></td><td><p>£659,675</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015-16</p></td><td><p>£665,700</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016-17</p></td><td><p>£719,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017-18</p></td><td><p>£675,392</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 29/07/2019 11:17:12 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1141070

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2019
	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: Wales
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people who have claimed universal credit in Wales in each year since its inception.
	tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
	tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
	uin	280164
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2019 answer text <p>Statistics surrounding the volume of Universal Credit claims is routinely published and can be found on the Department’s Stat-Xplore service: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk</a>/. Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p /> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 02/09/2019 14:36:29 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1141123

	registered interest
	date	22/07/2019
	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	Employment: Poverty
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to tackle the rise of in-work poverty.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne Central
	tabling member printed	Chi Onwurah
	uin	280471
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2019 answer text <p>There is clear evidence that work offers people the best opportunity to get out of poverty. A working-age adult living in a household where every adult is working is about 6 times less likely to be in relative poverty than one living in a household where nobody works.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit (UC) replaces six outdated and complex benefits with one – it is simplifying the benefits system and making work pay. As a result, people claiming UC move into work faster, stay in work longer and spend more time looking to increase their earnings. UC provides more help with childcare costs (eligible claimants are able to claim up to 85 per cent of their childcare costs, compared to 70% on the legacy system), a dedicated Work Coach, and removes the 16-hour ‘cliff edge’ for workers.</p><p> </p><p>The Department continues to conduct research and analysis to enhance our understanding surrounding working claimants, as well as working with stakeholders and customers to develop our approach. Our Work Coaches are fully trained to provide tailored advice on career development to help claimants explore ways to grow their earnings.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 29/07/2019 10:57:43 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4124 label Biography information for Chi Onwurah

1140533

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	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	Welfare Assistance Schemes
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of local authorities that no longer provide local welfare assistance schemes.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne North
	tabling member printed	Catherine McKinnell
	uin	279418
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2019 answer text <p>The reforms to the Social Fund in 2013 allowed local authorities in England, and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales, to deliver their own local provision for people who are in need of urgent help. We passed funding over to local authorities and devolved administrations (from April 2013) on a non-ring-fenced basis, with no statutory duties or monitoring requirements attached. Local authorities are best placed to decide how to target flexible help to support local welfare needs. The Government has no plans to alter policy on LWP or to review this provision at this time.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 279420 question first answered 29/07/2019 14:39:47 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4125 label Biography information for Catherine McKinnell

1140534

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	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, if she will make it her policy to extend the eligibility for budgeting loans to all families in receipt of universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne North
	tabling member printed	Catherine McKinnell
	uin	279419
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/09/2019 answer text <p>This Government is committed to providing a strong safety-net for those who need it and continues to spend over ￡95 billion a year on working age welfare benefits. This includes a well-established system of hardship payments, benefit advances and budgeting loans for those who need extra support. The Government also provides a range of additional financial support to families and this includes free school meals, Healthy Start vouchers and help with health costs.</p><p>Budgeting Advances have replaced Budgeting Loans for those in receipt of Universal Credit helping to provide additional assistance for emergency household costs, such as replacing a broken cooker, getting a job or staying in work or funeral costs. Eligibility for a Budgeting Advance is explained on GOV.UK and can be accessed at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-support" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-support</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 02/09/2019 14:24:22 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4125 label Biography information for Catherine McKinnell

1140535

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	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	Welfare Assistance Schemes: Migrants
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to extend eligibility for local welfare assistance to families with dependent children that have no recourse to public funds conditions attached to their leave to remain in the UK.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne North
	tabling member printed	Catherine McKinnell
	uin	279420
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2019 answer text <p>The reforms to the Social Fund in 2013 allowed local authorities in England, and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales, to deliver their own local provision for people who are in need of urgent help. We passed funding over to local authorities and devolved administrations (from April 2013) on a non-ring-fenced basis, with no statutory duties or monitoring requirements attached. Local authorities are best placed to decide how to target flexible help to support local welfare needs. The Government has no plans to alter policy on LWP or to review this provision at this time.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 279418 question first answered 29/07/2019 14:39:47 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4125 label Biography information for Catherine McKinnell

1140594

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	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: Telephone Services
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) average and (b) longest response time was to answer universal credit freephone numbers; and how many complaints about telephone response times for those numbers have been made in the last six months for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	279395
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit is a 24 hour, seven days a week, digital service that allows claimants to manage their own data and account online at a time which is convenient for them. Via their account, claimants can check their Universal Credit benefit payments, notify us of changes and record notes via an online journal facility. In addition, established claimants who call the Freephone Universal Credit helpline are connected directly to the person or team who are dealing with the case.</p><p> </p><p>For June 2019 the average speed of answer for a call to the Universal Credit helpline was 2 minutes 39 seconds. The longest response time was 55 minutes 33 seconds. In June we answered 1.2 million calls. The longest response time refers to a single caller and is not reflective of the experience of the majority of our customers.</p><p> </p><p>The average speed of answer measure is the average customer wait time from the point of entering a queue to connection to an agent. This excludes any time spent in pre-queue messaging and any wait time for calls ultimately abandoned by callers prior to answer.</p><p> </p><p>The information requested about telephony complaints is not available in the format requested and doing so could only be provided at disproportionate cost. We do not capture data specifically on complaints about response times for answering the Universal Credit helpline.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 16:18:26 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1140598

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	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, when she plans to start the universal credit managed migration pilot.
	tabling member constituency	Newport East
	tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
	uin	279396
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/09/2019 answer text <p>The Department commenced the Move to Universal Credit pilot in the area served by Harrogate Jobcentre on 24 July 2019. Following the pilot, we will report back to Parliament on our progress and findings, and at that point, will determine the process for bringing forward further legislation to move claimants beyond the pilot phase.</p><p> </p><p>The regulations also allowed for people potentially eligible for Severe Disability Premium transitional awards to start receiving payments. Statistics published on 2 September 2019 show over 6,300 claims worth over £16 million have been paid.</p><p> </p><p>The Secretary of State delivered an Oral Statement to the House on 22 July 2019 to announce the commencement of the Universal Credit managed migration pilot (also known as the Move to Universal Credit pilot), which can be viewed here - <a href="https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2019-07-22/debates/8111667B-E194-41D6-9496-FE1E870225E6/UniversalCreditManagedMigration" target="_blank">https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2019-07-22/debates/8111667B-E194-41D6-9496-FE1E870225E6/UniversalCreditManagedMigration</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/09/2019 15:41:34 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1140603

	registered interest
	date	19/07/2019
	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 many times the Child Maintenance Service registered the maintenance debt of a non-resident parent with credit rating agencies in the last year.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	279455
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2019 answer text <p>This information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 280279 question first answered 29/07/2019 14:18:24 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1140433

	registered interest
	date	18/07/2019
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Ethnic Groups
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many BAME staff are employed at (a) grade 7, (b) grade 5 and (c) grade 3 in her Department.
	tabling member constituency	Feltham and Heston
	tabling member printed	Seema Malhotra
	uin	279155
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/07/2019 answer text <p>DWP encourages all of its employees to provide details of their personal diversity information, however this action is voluntary and therefore we do not hold a complete picture of our workforce representation.</p><p> </p><p>As at 30<sup>th</sup> June 2019, 82% of DWP’s workforce have positively shared details of their ethnicity. Details of the grades requested are:</p><p><em> </em></p><p><strong> </strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Grade</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of employees who have indicated they are an ethnic minority </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>G7</strong></p></td><td><p>90</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>G5</strong></p></td><td><p>7</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>G3</strong></p></td><td><p>~</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p>~ In line with Office of National Statistics guidance data has been suppressed as count is less than 5 people</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 29/07/2019 12:08:38 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4253 label Biography information for Seema Malhotra