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1123659

	registered interest
	date	29/04/2019
	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 publish guidance on what triggers a natural migration to universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Easington
	tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
	uin	248643
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2019 answer text <p>Currently people only move to Universal Credit (UC) because they have had a significant change in their circumstances which would previously have led them to make a new claim to a legacy benefit. It has always been the case that in such circumstances, new claims would be assessed based upon their new circumstances and under the rules of the new benefit.</p><p> </p><p>Claimant circumstances within the legacy system are diverse and interact with a range of benefits in different ways. Eligibility for UC is dependent on individuals’ circumstances, the specific nature of the change and rules for access to legacy benefits.</p><p> </p><p>During oral evidence to the Work and Pensions Select Committee (WPSC) on Wednesday, 1 May 2019, the Minister of State for Employment confirmed that the Department will write to the Committee to provide, a list of examples which may prompt a move to UC after circumstances have changed.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 02/05/2019 10:03:27 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1123936

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2019
	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 plans to include an income assessment form in the application for advance payments for universal credit; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	249177
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>Introducing an income assessment could cause delay to Universal Credit (UC) new claim advances, the purpose of which is to provide fast access to a payment for people in financial need until their first UC payment’s due.</p><p> </p><p>The Department will increase the maximum recovery period for advances on new claims from 12 months to 16 months from October 2021. If an unforeseen event occurs that would result in hardship once recovery begins, in certain circumstances, repayments can be deferred for up to 3 months.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 07/05/2019 14:32:55 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1123937

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2019
	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 she has made of the value of advanced payments that will be paid to claimants of universal credit in 2019.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	249178
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit (UC) new claim advances provide fast access to a payment for people in financial need until their first UC payment is due. Assistance of up to 100% of the total expected monthly award, which is paid back over a period of up to 12 months, and from October 2021 up to 16 months, is available.</p><p> </p><p>The estimated value of advanced payments that were paid to Universal Credit (UC) claimants for new claims and benefits transfers in the financial year 2018/2019 is £502m (<strong>source:</strong> DWP internal statistics).</p><p> </p><p>The projected value of advanced payments that will be paid to claimants of UC for new claims and benefits transfers in each of the next five years is £676m in 2019/2020 rising to £862m in 2023/2024. This projection is line with the expected increase in UC claims.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Projected Advances Spend (£m)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019/2020</p></td><td><p>£676</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020/2021</p></td><td><p>£682</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021/2022</p></td><td><p>£678</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2022/2023</p></td><td><p>£766</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2023/2024</p></td><td><p>£862</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Source:</strong> DWP internal modelling of advances.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes: </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><ol><li>The data supplied is derived from unpublished management information which was collected for internal Departmental use only and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. The data should therefore be treated with caution.</li><li>Figures have been rounded to the nearest £million.</li></ol> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 249179 question first answered 07/05/2019 14:51:38 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1123938

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2019
	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 Pension, what estimate she has made of the value of advanced payments that will be paid to claimants of universal credit in each of the next five years.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	249179
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit (UC) new claim advances provide fast access to a payment for people in financial need until their first UC payment is due. Assistance of up to 100% of the total expected monthly award, which is paid back over a period of up to 12 months, and from October 2021 up to 16 months, is available.</p><p> </p><p>The estimated value of advanced payments that were paid to Universal Credit (UC) claimants for new claims and benefits transfers in the financial year 2018/2019 is £502m (<strong>source:</strong> DWP internal statistics).</p><p> </p><p>The projected value of advanced payments that will be paid to claimants of UC for new claims and benefits transfers in each of the next five years is £676m in 2019/2020 rising to £862m in 2023/2024. This projection is line with the expected increase in UC claims.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Projected Advances Spend (£m)</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2019/2020</p></td><td><p>£676</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020/2021</p></td><td><p>£682</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021/2022</p></td><td><p>£678</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2022/2023</p></td><td><p>£766</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2023/2024</p></td><td><p>£862</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Source:</strong> DWP internal modelling of advances.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes: </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><ol><li>The data supplied is derived from unpublished management information which was collected for internal Departmental use only and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. The data should therefore be treated with caution.</li><li>Figures have been rounded to the nearest £million.</li></ol> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 249178 question first answered 07/05/2019 14:51:38 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1123898

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2019
	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 an assessment of the implications for her Department's policies of the Trussell Trust recommendation to change the five-week wait for universal credit payments to reduce the use of foodbanks.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry South
	tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
	uin	249202
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>No UC claimant has to wait five weeks for their first payment. If required, advances of up to 100 per cent of their expected UC award are available to claimants from day one of their claim. Advances are paid back over a maximum of 12 months and in the Autumn Budget 2018, we announced that from October 2021, the payback period for these advances will be extended further, allowing claimants up to 16 months. 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 onto Universal Credit a two week ‘transitional housing payment’. We are also introducing a two-week run on for eligible claimants of Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance from July 2020.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 07/05/2019 15:02:03 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

1123940

	registered interest
	date	30/04/2019
	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: Children
	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 her Department has made of the effect of the two-child limit on families with a low income; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	249180
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/05/2019 answer text <p>It is the Department’s view that providing support for a maximum of two children or qualifying young persons in Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit will ensure fairness between those supporting themselves solely through work and those receiving benefits.</p><p> </p><p>The Government continues to take action to help families with the cost of living, including raising the national living wage, reducing the Universal Credit earnings taper, raising the income tax personal allowance, introducing tax-free childcare and 30 hours a week of free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, under Universal Credit, working families can claim back up to 85% of their registered childcare costs each month. This can be claimed up to a month before starting a job. For families with two children this could be worth up to £13,000 a year.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has assessed the impact of the policy from an equality and human rights perspective throughout its development and in preparation for its implementation. The Department published statistics related to the first year of policy implementation in June 2018, and have committed to subsequent annual releases.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 07/05/2019 15:09:31 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1124269

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Children
	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 has taken to make prospective parents aware of the two child limit on entitlement to tax credits and the child element of universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	249807
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit claimants were alerted to the policy changes announced by the Government in the Summer Budget 2015 and by communication on GOV.UK in August 2016.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC, who currently have the majority of claims from those with more than two children, also provided information about this change in leaflets which went to all claimants renewing their Child Tax Credits claim in Summer 2016 and Summer 2017.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 08/05/2019 17:07:44 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1124262

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	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 steps her Department is taking to ensure that people who are digitally excluded are not missing out on benefits to which they are entitled.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	249804
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>Our Universal Credit Claimant Survey, found that 98 per cent of claimants have internet access and did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be straightforward. This can be accessed at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-full-service-claimant-survey" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-full-service-claimant-survey</a></p><p>However, for those that are still unable to access or use digital services, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline. Face-to-face support is also available in Jobcentres. In exceptional circumstances, a home visit can be arranged to support a claimant in making and maintaining their claim.</p><p>From 1 April 2019 Citizens Advice (England and Wales) and Citizens Advice Scotland are delivering the new ‘Help to Claim’ support to claimants making a new Universal Credit (UC) claim or moving from a legacy benefit to UC because of a change of circumstances. The Citizens Advice Help to Claim offers tailored, practical support to help people make a UC claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time. It is available online, through web-chat, through a Freephone number and face to face through local Citizens Advice services.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 08/05/2019 17:09:36 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1124350

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	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 April 2019 to Question 243330 on Universal Credit, what assessment her Department makes of other repayment commitments that claimants may have alongside their obligation to repay a universal credit advance; and whether any such assessments affect the repayment period relating to such advances.
	tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
	tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
	uin	249846
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>The purpose of Universal Credit new claim advances is to provide those in financial need with fast access to a payment to see them through until their first Universal Credit payment is due. Introducing an assessment of claimant’s other repayment commitments would delay this.</p><p> </p><p>Affordability is managed by ensuring the recovery rate will not be more than the equivalent of 40% of their benefit unit’s standard allowance. Help is available for those struggling to meet the recovery rate. In exceptional circumstances, recovery can be deferred for up to 3 months from the start of the recovery period.</p><p> </p><p>Advances are not loans; they are an interest free payment benefit advance, 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 the recovery arrangements are personalised and reasonable. From October 2021 we are increasing the recovery period for advances from 12 to 16 months, further supporting those in financial need.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 08/05/2019 17:10:20 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1124266

	registered interest
	date	01/05/2019
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	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 estimate she has made of the amount of (a) jobseeker’s allowance, (b) universal credit, (c) personal independence payment and (d) disability living allowance to which claimants were entitled but did not claim in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	249805
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/05/2019 answer text <p>There are £2.4 billion of unclaimed legacy benefits not going to the people who need them, because they do not know that they are entitled to them or how to claim. Universal Credit makes sure that welfare payments reach those who need them most.</p><p> </p><p>The information requested is not held by the Department for Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance.</p><p> </p><p>The Department holds information on the amount of Jobseeker’s Allowance that claimants were entitled to but did not claim for the years 2009-2016. More recent data is not held.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Estimated amount of unclaimed JSA</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>Millions of Pounds</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2009/10</p></td><td><p>1,380</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>1,850</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2013/14</p></td><td><p>1,550</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2014/15</p></td><td><p>1,510</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>1,380</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Notes</p><ul><li>Amounts are shown in nominal terms (not adjusted for inflation)</li><li>The figures in the brackets give the 95 per cent confidence intervals. This range around the central take-up estimate is calculated to show, with 95 per cent probability, the range within which the true value of take-up lies. This assumes that there is no non-sampling error such as incorrect reporting of amounts or under-coverage of the range of respondents.</li><li>This information can be accessed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up-financial-year-201516" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up-financial-year-201516</a></li></ul><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 08/05/2019 17:12:08 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms