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1138941

registered interest
date	15/07/2019
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, whether her Department has plans to undertake a public consultation on changing the sequence by which deductions from benefits are ordered to ensure that child maintenance payments take priority over debts to private companies.
tabling member constituency	Bristol South
tabling member printed	Karin Smyth
uin	277210
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/07/2019 answer text <p>Under Universal Credit there is a structured approach to deductions from benefit, which simplifies the current complex arrangements of the legacy system.</p><p>The aims of the deductions policy in Universal Credit are to protect vulnerable claimants by providing a last resort repayment method for arrears of essential services, to enforce social obligations and to recover Government debt in a cost effective manner.</p><p>Deductions are made following the priority order, which determines the order in which items should be deducted. ‘Last resort’ deductions, such as rent or fuel costs, are at the top of the priority order, ensuring that claimant welfare is prioritised, followed by social obligation deductions, such as child maintenance, and finally benefit debt, such as Social Fund loans and benefit overpayments.</p><p>We prioritise the welfare of claimants, as this is the best way to support them and to help them to move towards work and off benefits.</p><p>The Deduction Priority Order can be found here (p. 72) - <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/683470/benefit-overpayment-recovery-guide.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/683470/benefit-overpayment-recovery-guide.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 23/07/2019 09:28:18 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
tabling member	4444 label Biography information for Karin Smyth

1126090

registered interest
date	13/05/2019
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, how many and what proportion of universal credit claimants have had money deducted as a result of (a) council tax arrears, (b) rent arrears and (c) historical tax credit debt.
tabling member constituency	Bristol South
tabling member printed	Karin Smyth
uin	253637
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2019 answer text <p>The latest available data is for eligible claims to Universal Credit Full Service that were eligible for payment in February 2019.</p><p> </p><p>Of these claims:</p><p> </p><p>- 2% (34,000 claims) had a deduction for council tax arrears</p><p>- 6% (83,000 claims) had a deduction for rent arrears</p><p>- 17% (255,000 claims) had a deduction for tax credit overpayments</p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p> </p><ol><li>Figures include only those claims with a non-zero deduction for each deduction type.</li><li>Rent arrears deductions are defined as arrears of rent and/or service charges relating to a rented property.</li><li>Figures for tax credit overpayments include both fraud and normal overpayments.</li><li>Figures rounded to nearest 1,000.</li></ol> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 20/05/2019 15:24:58 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
tabling member	4444 label Biography information for Karin Smyth

1013092

registered interest
date	23/11/2018
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 number of claimants of Universal Credit that have had deductions of more than 40 per cent from their Standard Allowance as a result of overpayments made by (a) computer and (b) other administrative error.
tabling member constituency	Bristol South
tabling member printed	Karin Smyth
uin	195087
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/12/2018 answer text <p>It is not possible for a deduction of more than 40 per cent of the Standard Allowance to be made as a result of overpayments whether made by a computer or other administrative error.</p><p> </p><p>When an overpayment deduction is being applied, then it has to be within the overall 40 per cent limit for deductions (reducing to 30 per cent from October 2019). The maximum deduction that can be taken for overpayments that have occurred due to computer or administrative error is either 15 per cent (standard rate) or 25 per cent (in receipt of UC with earnings) of the standard allowance. The 40 per cent maximum is only applied to overpayments caused as a consequence of fraud. As last resort deductions are higher up the deduction priority order, they will already have been taken as third party deductions, and as such the total deduction cannot exceed the 40 per cent maximum.</p><p> </p><p>For example:</p><ol><li>Last resort deduction for arrears of rent at 10%;</li><li>Last resort deduction for arrears of gas at 5%;</li><li>Last resort deduction for arrears of electricity at 5%;</li><li>Arrears of overpayment caused by error for a claimant with earnings. The maximum deduction rate for this is 25% but as 20% is already being taken for the third party deductions above, only 20% will be taken for the overpayment, so as not to exceed the 40% limit.</li></ol><p /><p>More generally, it is possible for the 40% ceiling to be breached but only when there is a Fraud Penalty or Sanction or an Advance repayment which means that some or all of the Last Resort Deductions cannot be applied while remaining within the 40% ceiling. If it is nevertheless in the claimant’s best interests to apply the Last Resort Deductions, then the ceiling can be breached. At this point, anything lower down the priority order (such as overpayments) would not be deducted.</p><p> </p><p>The Deduction Priority Order can be found here (p. 72) - <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/683470/benefit-overpayment-recovery-guide.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/683470/benefit-overpayment-recovery-guide.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 03/12/2018 17:57:37 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
tabling member	4444 label Biography information for Karin Smyth

1013093

registered interest
date	23/11/2018
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 number of claimants of tax credits that will not be eligible for universal credit as a result of the savings limit qualification.
tabling member constituency	Bristol South
tabling member printed	Karin Smyth
uin	195088
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2018 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>We have, however, made an estimate for the number of tax credit claimants with capital in excess of £16,000 likely to be managed migrated, across Great Britain, which is around 35,000.</p><p> </p><p>As announced on 7 June 2018, for claimants with capital exceeding £16,000 who are managed migrated onto Universal Credit by the Department, any capital which exceeds the limit will be disregarded for 12 months, which means they are entitled to Universal Credit. This protection period for claimants is contingent on parliamentary approval of the required legislation.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 04/12/2018 16:21:04 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
tabling member	4444 label Biography information for Karin Smyth

1013094

registered interest
date	23/11/2018
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 the Government plans to bring forward legislative proposals to implement the transitional protections for claimants of universal credit that were in receipt of severe disability premium.
tabling member constituency	Bristol South
tabling member printed	Karin Smyth
uin	195089
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2018 answer text <p>Our proposals to implement transitional protections for claimants of Universal Credit who had previously been in receipt of the Severe Disability Premium were laid before Parliament on 5 November 2018 as part of the Universal Credit (Managed Migration) Regulations 2018.</p><p> </p><p>These regulations make provision for an on-going payment to claimants who have already lost their Severe Disability Premium as a result of moving on to Universal Credit and who would still meet the eligibility criteria. The regulations also include an additional payment to cover the period since they moved onto Universal Credit. These payments are subject to the regulations receiving Parliamentary approval.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 195090 question first answered 30/11/2018 14:48:15 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
tabling member	4444 label Biography information for Karin Smyth

1013095

registered interest
date	23/11/2018
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 the proposed transitional protections for claimants of universal credit that were in receipt of severe disability premium will be backdated for claimants that have been migrated to universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Bristol South
tabling member printed	Karin Smyth
uin	195090
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/11/2018 answer text <p>Our proposals to implement transitional protections for claimants of Universal Credit who had previously been in receipt of the Severe Disability Premium were laid before Parliament on 5 November 2018 as part of the Universal Credit (Managed Migration) Regulations 2018.</p><p> </p><p>These regulations make provision for an on-going payment to claimants who have already lost their Severe Disability Premium as a result of moving on to Universal Credit and who would still meet the eligibility criteria. The regulations also include an additional payment to cover the period since they moved onto Universal Credit. These payments are subject to the regulations receiving Parliamentary approval.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 195089 question first answered 30/11/2018 14:48:15 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
tabling member	4444 label Biography information for Karin Smyth

989533

registered interest
date	17/10/2018
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 number of historical tax credit overpayments to be referred from HMRC to her Department for recovery through universal credit payments.
tabling member constituency	Bristol South
tabling member printed	Karin Smyth
uin	180797
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2018 answer text <p>Where a person stops claiming Tax Credits and instead claims Universal Credit, DWP will take responsibility for Tax Credits debt that person has, which HMRC has not been able to recover at the point of transfer. This will enable recovery to continue through Universal Credit. As at the end of September 2018, £571m* of Tax Credits debt has transferred. This will increase as Tax Credits claimants move onto Universal Credit. DWP continues to work with HMRC and HM Treasury to better understand the make-up of the Tax Credits debt to be transferred. DWP’s 2017/18 annual accounts noted that £5.9 billion of tax credit debt will transfer across as part of the Universal Credit migration process.</p><p> </p><p>* From DWP internal management information data</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 180650 180798 question first answered 26/10/2018 12:38:48 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
tabling member	4444 label Biography information for Karin Smyth

989534

registered interest
date	17/10/2018
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, which Department will be responsible for resolving disputes on the recovery of alleged tax credit overpayments by universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Bristol South
tabling member printed	Karin Smyth
uin	180798
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2018 answer text <p>Where a person stops claiming Tax Credits and instead claims Universal Credit, DWP will take responsibility for Tax Credits debt that person has, which HMRC has not been able to recover at the point of transfer. This will enable recovery to continue through Universal Credit. As at the end of September 2018, £571m* of Tax Credits debt has transferred. This will increase as Tax Credits claimants move onto Universal Credit. DWP continues to work with HMRC and HM Treasury to better understand the make-up of the Tax Credits debt to be transferred. DWP’s 2017/18 annual accounts noted that £5.9 billion of tax credit debt will transfer across as part of the Universal Credit migration process.</p><p> </p><p>* From DWP internal management information data</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 180650 180797 question first answered 26/10/2018 12:38:48 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
tabling member	4444 label Biography information for Karin Smyth

919140

registered interest
date	07/06/2018
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: Disqualification
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 (a) level of and (b) reasons for the variance between different job centres in the level of benefit payment sanctions for claimants of (i) jobseeker's allowance, (ii) employment support allowance and (iii) universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Bristol South
tabling member printed	Karin Smyth
uin	151217
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/06/2018 answer text <p>To monitor variation in sanction referrals, the Department has established a regular sanctions variation dashboard overseen by a senior steering group. This will allow the Department to make use of the latest internal data to ensure that any issues are identified in a timely way. The dashboard includes monitoring levels of variation, highlighting areas with unusually high or low referral rates compared to historical trends and also information about how rates differ between claimants due to certain characteristics such as ethnicity or age.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has also been examining sanction data by a range of both claimant and geographical characteristics in order to better understand the reasons for variation in sanction referrals.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 18/06/2018 16:28:38 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Lord Sharma
tabling member	4444 label Biography information for Karin Smyth