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1138410

	registered interest
	date	11/07/2019
	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	State Retirement Pensions
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how the increases in state pension for 2019-20 were calculated; and for what reasons pensioners reaching the age of 80 are awarded an increase of 25 pence in 2019-20.
	tabling member constituency	Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
	tabling member printed	Lesley Laird
	uin	276270
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/07/2019 answer text <p>As a result of the Triple Lock, from April 2019, the full yearly amount of the basic State Pension is around £675 higher than if it had just been up-rated by earnings since April 2010. That’s a rise of over £1,600 in cash terms.</p><p /><p>The Government is committed to ensuring economic security for people at every stage of their life, including during retirement. We are forecast to spend over £120 billion on benefits for pensioners in 2019/20. This includes £99 billion of expenditure on the State Pension.</p><p> </p><p>In 2019/20, the basic State Pension and the new State Pension (apart from Protected Payments) were both uprated by 2.6%. This was in line with the Triple Lock guarantee that these will rise by the highest of average earnings growth, price inflation, or 2.5%. In 2019/20 the highest measure was earnings growth at 2.6%. The full basic State Pension went up by £3.25 to £129.20 a week whilst the full rate of the new State Pension rose by £4.25 to £168.60 a week.</p><p> </p><p>Protected Payments, Additional State Pension and Graduated Retirement Benefit elements are uprated each year by the increase in prices. They rose by 2.4% (CPI) in 2019/20.</p><p> </p><p>The 25p age addition to contributory and non-contributory retirement pensions is paid with the State Pension when individuals reach age 80. It is a separate issue from the uprating process outlined above. When the age addition was first introduced in 1971 the value of the basic State Pension for a single person was £6 per week and the amount of 25p constituted a more substantial sum in relation to the total State Pension than it does nowadays in relation to the current basic State Pension of £129.20 a week.</p><p> </p><p>Although there are no plans to uprate the age addition amount, this should be considered alongside the range of other measures and benefits, including Pension Credit, that are available to pensioners, over age 80. Moreover, people who are aged 80 and over receive a Winter Fuel Payment of £300, instead of the standard Winter Fuel Payment of £200 for pensioners below that age. Additionally, the non-contributory Category D State Pension is available to those aged over 80 with either no entitlement to a basic State Pension or who are entitled to State Pension of less than £77.45 per week who meet the residency conditions.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 19/07/2019 12:29:42 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4660 label Biography information for Lesley Laird

1217920

	registered interest
	date	25/06/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Workplace Pensions: Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many workers in Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency (a) are receiving auto-enrolment pension contributions through Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and (b) have stopped contributing towards a pension since the beginning of the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
	tabling member printed	Neale Hanvey
	uin	65024
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/07/2020 answer text <p>Complete data is not available on the employees for whom employers have claimed automatic enrolment minimum pension contributions under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. This is because the necessary information is collected at employee level only on claims where 100 or more staff are furloughed.</p><p> </p><p>An estimate of the number of employees resident in the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency that are no longer making employee pension contributions, via their employers payroll, is not currently available and to provide one would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>In the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath constituency, since 2012, approximately 7,000 eligible jobholders have been automatically enrolled and 2,310 employers have met their duties.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 07/07/2020 16:26:04 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4782 label Biography information for Neale Hanvey

1276332

	registered interest
	date	13/01/2021
	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 effect of the universal credit monthly assessment period on the financial stability of claimants.
	tabling member constituency	Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
	tabling member printed	Neale Hanvey
	uin	137327
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/01/2021 answer text <p>Universal Credit (UC) is a calendar monthly assessed benefit that is paid monthly in arrears. This approach reflects the world of work, where the majority of all employees receive wages monthly.</p><p /><p>Unlike the legacy benefit system, Universal Credit takes income and earnings into account in a way that is fair and transparent across all claimant circumstances, such as different frequencies in earnings and income received. The amount of Universal Credit paid reflects, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household for each monthly assessment period, including any income and/or earnings reported by the employer during that period.</p><p> </p><p>Monthly reporting allows Universal Credit to be adjusted on a monthly basis, which ensures that if a claimant's income falls, which results in a rise in their Universal Credit award, they will not have to wait several months to receive it.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, Work Coaches are trained to gauge claimants’ financial needs from their first contact and can refer them to more specialist support for personal budgeting, money guidance and debt advice if required, including through the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS).</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 22/01/2021 14:42:11 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4782 label Biography information for Neale Hanvey

1283012

	registered interest
	date	02/02/2021
	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: Personal Income
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Johnson & Others v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Court of Appeal decision 22 June 2020, what steps her Department is taking to recompense universal credit claimants who experienced fluctuations of their income due to the method of calculating earned income prior to the changes brought into effect on 16 November 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
	tabling member printed	Neale Hanvey
	uin	148022
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/02/2021 answer text <p>The legislation and arrangements we have put in place provide a remedy to satisfy the Court of Appeal’s Judgment and means that for future cases affected by this issue, monthly earnings will be reallocated to another assessment period, which means that only one set of earnings will be taken into account rather than two, and certain claimants will be able to benefit from any applicable work allowance.</p><p> </p><p>The Court of Appeal’s judgment did not require the Department to apply the new arrangements retrospectively.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/02/2021 17:39:35 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4782 label Biography information for Neale Hanvey

1311570

	registered interest
	date	22/04/2021
	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	Bereavement Support Payment
	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 take-up rate of the Bereavement Support Payment since its introduction in April 2017.
	tabling member constituency	Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
	tabling member printed	Neale Hanvey
	uin	186036
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2021 answer text <p>It is not possible to accurately measure take-up of BSP, out of those who are eligible, by year as this would require monthly data on deaths by age and marital status.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 29/04/2021 08:50:43 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4782 label Biography information for Neale Hanvey

1359305

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2021
	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	Pensioners: Fuel Poverty
	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 steps her Department could take to help pensioners avoid fuel poverty ahead of energy bill increases.
	tabling member constituency	Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
	tabling member printed	Neale Hanvey
	uin	56414
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to tackling fuel poverty and protecting low income and vulnerable households.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Winter Fuel Payment provides pensioners with support for their energy bills over winter. Government has committed to keeping the Winter Fuel Payment and will continue to pay £200 to eligible households with someone between State Pension age and 79, and £300 to a household with someone aged 80 or over. The payment is intended to give reassurance to pensioners that they can keep warm during the colder months.</p><p> </p><p>Cold Weather Payments are also available for periods of extreme weather to those in receipt of Pension Credit, including those receiving the Savings Credit element. The Scottish Government will in due course replace Winter Fuel and Cold Weather Payments with its own provision under the terms of the Scotland Act 2016.</p><p> </p><p>The Warm Home Discount scheme, worth £354 million this year, further provides eligible low-income and vulnerable households with £140 off their fuel bill over winter. Around one million low-income pensioner households – in receipt of the Guarantee Credit element of the Pension Credit – will receive a rebate this winter. Most eligible pensioners will receive their rebates automatically, without having to take any action. The scheme will be extended to 2026 and continue to support low-income pensioners with their energy bills.</p><p /><p>We recognise that some people continue to require extra support, which is why we have introduced a £421 million Household Support Fund to help vulnerable people in England with essential household costs over the winter as the economy recovers. The Barnett Formula will apply in the usual way, with the devolved administrations receiving almost £80 million (£41m for the Scottish Government, £25m for the Welsh Government and £14m for the NI Executive), for a total of £500 million.</p><p> </p><p>This winter, the energy price cap will continue to protect around 15 million British households on default tariffs, saving them between £75 and £100 a year on dual fuel bills. In addition, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy reached a Voluntary Agreement with energy suppliers last year which remains in place this winter. Vulnerable people and those experiencing financial difficulty should contact their supplier to discuss support available under the agreement, including reassessing, reducing or pausing debt repayments.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 21/10/2021 13:46:28 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4782 label Biography information for Neale Hanvey

1359306

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2021
	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	Winter Fuel Payment
	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 plans to take ahead of expected energy bill increases to help ensure that the Winter Fuel Payment is fit for purpose.
	tabling member constituency	Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
	tabling member printed	Neale Hanvey
	uin	56416
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2021 answer text <p>The Government has committed to keeping the winter fuel payment and will continue to pay £200 to eligible households with someone between state pension age and 79, and £300 to a household with someone aged 80 or over. The payment provides reassurance to pensioners that Government assistance is available and that they can keep warm during the colder months.</p><p> </p><p>The Scottish Government will in due course replace these payments with its own provision under the terms of the Scotland Act 2016.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 56419 question first answered 21/10/2021 13:42:58 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4782 label Biography information for Neale Hanvey

1359307

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2021
	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	Winter Fuel Payment: Uprating
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to ensure that the Winter Fuel Payment will be uprated annually to keep pace with inflation.
	tabling member constituency	Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
	tabling member printed	Neale Hanvey
	uin	56419
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2021 answer text <p>The Government has committed to keeping the winter fuel payment and will continue to pay £200 to eligible households with someone between state pension age and 79, and £300 to a household with someone aged 80 or over. The payment provides reassurance to pensioners that Government assistance is available and that they can keep warm during the colder months.</p><p> </p><p>The Scottish Government will in due course replace these payments with its own provision under the terms of the Scotland Act 2016.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 56416 question first answered 21/10/2021 13:42:57 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4782 label Biography information for Neale Hanvey

1360632

	registered interest
	date	18/10/2021
	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	Workplace Pensions
	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 potential merits of amending legislation on workplace occupational pensions for the purposes of guaranteeing that retirees receive back at least the (a) actual sums invested into their pension pot or (b) amount invested into their pension pot uprated for inflation.
	tabling member constituency	Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
	tabling member printed	Neale Hanvey
	uin	58530
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2021 answer text <p>No assessment has been made.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 26/10/2021 12:15:51 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4782 label Biography information for Neale Hanvey

1400331

	registered interest
	date	06/01/2022
	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	Sick Pay: Self-employed
	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 extend full statutory sick pay to self-employed people who are required to self-isolate as a result of covid-19.
	tabling member constituency	Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
	tabling member printed	Neale Hanvey
	uin	99076
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/01/2022 answer text <p>No. Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) is paid for by employers and there is no mechanism to include the self-employed in SSP.</p><p> </p><p>The Government does have a wider safety net to ensure self-employed people are supported through the welfare system.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith grouped question UIN 99077 question first answered 17/01/2022 12:09:51 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4782 label Biography information for Neale Hanvey