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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

1330692

	registered interest
	date	08/06/2021
	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	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 the Government's announcement during Budget 2020 to extend the exemptions from the Shared Accommodation Rate, if he will bring forward the planned exemption for survivors of domestic abuse and human trafficking; for what reasons that category of persons were not included in the recent decision to bring forward the exemption for rough sleepers aged 16-24 and care leavers up to age 25 to June 2021; and if he will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	12104
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/06/2021 answer text <p>The additional support to expand existing exemptions for care leavers and former residents of homeless hostels has been brought forward by over two years and made available from 31<br>May 2021. <br><br></p><p />However, the new exemptions from the shared accommodation rate for victims of domestic violence and modern slavery will require more significant amendments to legislation as well as local<br />authority and Universal Credit IT systems, which will take time to develop and implement. <p /><p /><p>For those who require additional housing support and whose circumstances may make it difficult for them to share accommodation, Discretionary Housing Payments are<br>available. Since 2011, the government has provided over £1 billion in Discretionary Housing Payments to local authorities to help support vulnerable people.</p><p /><p /> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 16/06/2021 17:02:20 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas

1352640

	registered interest
	date	03/09/2021
	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: Key Workers
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data her Department holds on which sectors universal credit claimants work in; what estimate she has made of the number of claimants classified as critical workers who will receive a £20 a week reduction to their universal credit income; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
	tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
	uin	41810
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/09/2021 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. We do not systematically collect data on the employment sector background of UC claimants because this does not affect entitlement to UC.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 13/09/2021 16:56:11 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas