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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

1167462

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2019
	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, if she will make an (a) estimate of the cost to the public purse of restoring local housing allowance to cover the cheapest third of local rents over three years, (b) assessment of the potential effect of that policy on the number of (i) individuals and (ii) families including children (A) able to remain in existing accommodation and (B) no longer classed as being in poverty and (C) assessment of the potential effect on the public purse of changes resulting from that policy in the level of demand for temporary accommodation and other homelessness services.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	7721
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/11/2019 answer text <p>We estimate the cost of restoring Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30<sup>th</sup> percentile of local rents would be about £800 million in 2020/21, £1,000 million in 2021/22 and £1,200 million in 2022/23. This excludes any changes in behaviour by tenants and landlords.</p><p> </p><p>We have not made an estimate of the effect on staying in the same accommodation, or on savings that might arise in temporary accommodation and other homelessness services.</p><p> </p><p>Poverty projections are inherently speculative as they require projecting how income will change for every individual in society, and this is affected by a huge range of factors.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/11/2019 11:40:30 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1170394

	registered interest
	date	13/01/2020
	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	Local Housing Allowance: Young People
	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 bring forward legislative proposals to include people aged under 25 in the shared accommodation rate exemption for homeless people; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	2473
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2020 answer text <p>There is an exemption from the shared accommodation rate for those aged 25-34 who have previously spent 3 months (which doesn’t have to be continuous) in a homeless hostel/hostels specialising in rehabilitation and resettlement. There are no current plans to make legislative changes to extend this exemption to those under the age of 25.</p><p>For individuals who may require more support and whose circumstances may make it difficult for them to share accommodation, Discretionary Housing Payments are available.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 20/01/2020 14:59:53 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1181361

	registered interest
	date	27/02/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Care Leavers: 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, if she will bring forward legislative proposals to extend the shared accommodation rate exemption for care leavers up to the age of 25; what discussions she has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on local housing allowance provision for care leavers aged 22-25; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	21953
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2020 answer text <p>There are no current plans to extend the exemption but for individuals who may require more support and whose circumstances may make it difficult for them to share accommodation, Discretionary Housing Payments are available. Since 2011 we have provided over £1billion in Discretionary Housing Payment funding, enabling local authorities to protect the most vulnerable claimants and supporting households to adapt to housing support reforms and we recently announced an extra £40 million in Discretionary Housing Payments for 2020/21, helping to tackle the most acute affordability pressures in the private rented sector.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/03/2020 12:19:11 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1184404

	registered interest
	date	11/03/2020
	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	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, with reference to paragraph 2.20 on page 71 of the Budget 2020 Red Book, for what reasons the extensions of the shared accommodation rate exemptions to (a) rough sleepers aged 16 to 24, (b) care leavers up to the age of 25 and (c) survivors of domestic abuse and human trafficking will not be introduced until October 2023; if she will make the provision of discretionary housing payments automatic for each of those groups until that introduction date; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	27994
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/03/2020 answer text <p>The changes to the shared accommodation rate exemptions will require amendments to legislation as well as local authority and universal credit IT systems therefore they will take time to implement. We expect they will be in place from October 2023.</p><p> </p><p>In the meantime, for other individuals who may require more support and whose circumstances may make it difficult for them to share accommodation, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available. Due to their discretionary nature, DHPs will not be automatic as local authority decision makers are best placed to make informed judgements about relative priorities and needs in their area to ensure that the most vulnerable are supported and the limited funds are targeted effectively.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 17/03/2020 15:44:07 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1187264

	registered interest
	date	23/03/2020
	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	Housing Benefit: Coronavirus
	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 introduce three-month bloc payments of housing benefit to homelessness accommodation providers to reduce financial risk during the covid-19 outbreak; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	33495
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2020 answer text <p>The Government will do its upmost to support people affected by Covid-19. The Department has made a number of changes to support those who are at the greatest financial risk during this time.</p><p> </p><p>Specifically, Local Housing Allowance rates have been increased to the 30<sup>th</sup> percentile from April for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants, giving additional financial support for private renters to support them through this period and putting an average of £600 more into people’s pockets. Discretionary Housing Payments can also be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs.</p><p> </p><p>Like many other social security benefits, as well as most other forms of income, Housing Benefit is paid in arrears. The reason for this is that payment in arrears reduces the scope for fraud and potential overpayments of benefit. The Government has no current plans to change the current payment arrangements for people in Supported Housing who are in receipt of Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>The Department, and wider Government, will continue to ensure that people who need financial help have access to the benefit system and the wider housing support that is already in place.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 01/05/2020 13:30:37 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince previous answer version 15667 answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1199760

	registered interest
	date	02/06/2020
	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	Local Housing Allowance: Shared Housing
	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 recommendation two of the letter of 1 June 2020 from the Social Security Advisory Committee, if she will make it her policy to suspend the Shared Accommodation Rate for under 35 year olds.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	53382
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>There are no plans to suspend the shared accommodation rate for those under 35 years old.</p><p> </p><p>There are already a number of exemptions from the shared accommodation rate for the most vulnerable, such as those in receipt of the Severe Disability Premium, care leavers up to the age of 22 and those aged 25-34 who have spent 3 months in homeless hostels.</p><p> </p><p>For other individuals who may require more support and whose circumstances may make it difficult for them to share accommodation, Discretionary Housing Payments are available from local authorities.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 08/06/2020 13:07:45 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1242589

	registered interest
	date	12/10/2020
	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	Local Housing Allowance: Young People
	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 the Chancellor on the potential merits of removing the Shared Accommodation Rate exemptions for homeless young people and care leavers under-22 during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	102027
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2020 answer text <p>There are currently no plans to remove the existing exemptions from the Shared Accommodation Rate.</p><p> </p><p>The Government remains committed to supporting homeless young people and care leavers and extending the exemptions to the shared accommodation rate by October 2023. The changes will require amendments to legislation as well as local authority and universal credit IT systems therefore they will take time to implement.</p><p> </p><p>In the meantime, for individuals who may require more support and whose circumstances may make it difficult for them to share accommodation, Discretionary Housing Payments are available. We have provided £180m in Discretionary Housing Payment funding to local authorities to support vulnerable claimants with housing costs in England and Wales for 2020/21.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 21/10/2020 13:15:44 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1247155

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2020
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
	answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
	hansard heading	Universal Credit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect on rent arrears levels of the Government's policy of only allowing direct payments to landlords from universal credit claimants to commence once rent arrears have been amassed; if she will make it her policy to all enable universal credit claimants to choose to pay rent directly to their landlord from the start of their claim; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	109277
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2020 answer text <p>Payments to landlords are already available at any point of a Universal Credit claim, if the tenant is likely to have difficulty in managing their rent payments or is in arrears. Such arrangements can be requested by either the claimant or the landlord and are considered on a case by case basis.</p><p> </p><p>All Universal Credit claimants have the opportunity to discuss any concerns about how to budget their monthly payments with their work coach and/or via their UC Journal. UC staff will identify any financial issues the claimant has and signpost claimants to any relevant local face-to-face provision or support that is available and/or the Money Advice Service as appropriate.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/11/2020 17:09:21 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1247224

	registered interest
	date	30/10/2020
	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	Local Housing Allowance: Young People
	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 21 October 2020 to Question 102027 on Local Housing Allowance: Young People, if she will publish a summary explanation of the changes to (a) legislation, (b) local authority policies and (c) universal credit IT systems required to extend the Shared Accommodation Rate exemption to care leavers aged 22 to 25 years old and homeless people under 25 years old; whether work on those changes has begun; whether that work will take three years from start to finish; if she will undertake a feasibility study of bringing forward the implementation of those changes; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	109279
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2020 answer text <p>Early policy and delivery work has begun to deliver these measures and the necessary legislation will be taken forward in due course. As announced in the Spring Budget 2020, these changes will be in place from October 2023.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/11/2020 17:54:53 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas