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1249911

registered interest
date	05/11/2020
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	Department for Work and Pensions: Artificial Intelligence
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what (a) artificial intelligence and (b) machine learning projects are being (i) undertaken and (ii) considered for her Department.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	112080
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/11/2020 answer text <p>The Department will make use of Artificial Intelligence or Machine Learning technologies where it is appropriate across many areas of work.</p><p>· Identity, Trust &amp; Verification - Robust identity verification and authentication provides us with the confidence that people interacting with us are who they say they are. This is essential to our ambitions in enabling self-service and to safeguarding the public purse and to reduce verification demands where it is unnecessary.</p><p>· Process Automation – We incrementally utilise robotic automations on some existing processes to remove the need for routine administrative work and to speed up the processing of claims and changes to be timely, with less backlogs.</p><p>· Signposting &amp; Support Offers for Citizen Outcomes– We are exploring how to provide a more relevant non-financial support offer for customers, more tailored signposting to provision, more preventative interventions for the individual and more effective place and sector-based interventions.</p><p>· Countering Fraud, Error and Debt – We are developing our counter fraud and error risk services to help prevent and reduce fraud and error losses. Our aim is to increasingly prevent fraud and error at the point of contact with customers and to reduce costs of interventions.</p><p>· Cyber Security – This means continuously evolving our cyber security and resilience to detect rapidly moving security threats as we increase our on-line presence.</p><p> </p><p>In all cases our own data experts assure these results, learn at scale and iteratively improve.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 10/11/2020 15:40:38 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1248338

registered interest
date	03/11/2020
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	State Retirement Pensions: Coronavirus
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 plans to increase the state pension allowance to account for the increased utility costs of people spending an increased amount of time in their homes during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Gateshead
tabling member printed	Ian Mearns
uin	110783
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that older people are able to live with the dignity and respect they deserve, and the State Pension is the foundation of state support for older people. In response to the Covid 19 pandemic, the Government has introduced an Uprating Bill to ensure we can increase State Pension and Pension Credit rates for 2021/22.</p><p> </p><p>In April 2020, full amounts of the basic and new State Pensions increased by 3.9%, in line with average earnings growth. The full yearly rate of the basic State Pension is now worth over £1,900 more than it was in 2010.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has committed to keeping the Winter Fuel Payment. The payment gives reassurance, particularly to poorer pensioners that they can keep warm during the colder months. We will continue to pay £200 for households with somebody who has reached State Pension age and is under age 80 or £300 for households with somebody aged 80 and over. This is a significant contribution towards a household’s winter fuel bill.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Pensioners whose financial circumstances have been affected by the pandemic may be eligible for Pension Credit. Pension Credit tops up a person’s other income to a standard minimum weekly amount – £173.75 for single people or £265.20 for a couple. Extra amounts are also payable in respect of disability, caring (including for children) and certain housing costs. An award of Pension Credit can also provide access to a range of other benefits such as help with housing costs, council tax, heating bills or health costs.</p><p> </p><p>Pension Credit customers who are in receipt of the Pension Credit Guarantee Credit element, are also entitled to the warm home discount providing their energy supplier is part of the scheme. Further details can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 09/11/2020 14:45:13 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4000 label Biography information for Ian Mearns

1247036

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	Pension Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the rate was of successful applications for pension credit in each year from 2015 to 2019 inclusive.
tabling member constituency	Dundee West
tabling member printed	Chris Law
uin	109426
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2020 answer text <p>The Department does not hold this information.</p><p /> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 04/11/2020 16:30:38 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4403 label Biography information for Chris Law

1247052

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	Funeral Payments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether there was a backlog of applications for funeral expenses payments prior to the implementation of covid-19 lockdown restrictions on 23 March 2020.
tabling member constituency	Swansea East
tabling member printed	Carolyn Harris
uin	109493
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2020 answer text <p>Prior to the implementation of COVID-19 restrictions on 23 March there was a backlog of Funeral Expense Payments (FEP) claims. In response to this and the COVID-19 outbreak, steps have been taken to significantly speed up the processing of Funeral Expense Payment claims in support of those who need it most.</p><p /><p /> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 09/11/2020 17:46:57 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4480 label Biography information for Carolyn Harris

1247057

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	Funeral Payments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claims for funeral expenses payments were received in (a) 2019-20 and (b) the first six months of 2020-21.
tabling member constituency	Swansea East
tabling member printed	Carolyn Harris
uin	109497
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2020 answer text <p>The number of Funeral Expenses Payment applications received, in Great Britain, is reported annually in Appendix 1 of the Social Fund Annual Report:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-fund-annual-report-2017-to-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-fund-annual-report-2017-to-2018</a></p><p /><p>The information requested for 2019/20 will be published in due course, and so cannot be released ahead of publication.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In the period April 2020 - September 2020, there were approximately 23,900 applications received for Funeral Expenses Payments in Great Britain.</p><p> </p><p>This figure is drawn from the Social Fund Policy, Budget, and Management Information System. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official / National statistics.</p><p>Notes</p><p>The figure is rounded to the nearest 100.</p><ul><li>The figure relates to applications received by DWP, not applications processed. Some applications may have been withdrawn before a decision was made.</li><li>The number of applications made is not equal to the number of people who made applications, as individuals may make multiple applications in a given time period.</li><li>Differences between any comparisons made of applications received, initial decisions, awards and initial refusals are due to applications being withdrawn; applicants rejecting or not responding to loan offers; and decisions outstanding at the time of the count.</li></ul> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 09/11/2020 18:06:24 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4480 label Biography information for Carolyn Harris

1247060

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	Funeral Payments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many funeral expenses payment claims were accepted at initial decision in (a) 2019-20 and (b) the first six months of 2020-21.
tabling member constituency	Swansea East
tabling member printed	Carolyn Harris
uin	109498
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2020 answer text <p>We do not publish the number of claims awarded, at initial decision, as requested. The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>However, a variant on the data requested is in the public domain. Applications that were initially unsuccessful may have resulted in an award after review, reconsideration or appeal. These cases are included in the final awards in the Social Fund Annual Report.</p><p /><p>The number of Funeral Expenses Payment awards, in Great Britain, is reported annually in Appendix 1 of the Social Fund Annual Report:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-fund-annual-report-2017-to-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-fund-annual-report-2017-to-2018</a></p><p /><p>The number of awards for 2019/20 will be published in due course, and so cannot be released ahead of publication.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 09/11/2020 18:03:33 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4480 label Biography information for Carolyn Harris

1247061

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	Funeral Payments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many funeral expenses payments claims were rejected at initial decision in (a) 2019-20 and (b) the first six months of 2020-21.
tabling member constituency	Swansea East
tabling member printed	Carolyn Harris
uin	109499
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2020 answer text <p>The number of Funeral Expenses Payment applications refused at initial decision, in Great Britain, is reported annually in Appendix 1 of the Social Fund Annual Report:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-fund-annual-report-2017-to-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-fund-annual-report-2017-to-2018</a></p><p /><p>The information requested for 2019/20 will be published in due course, and so cannot be released ahead of publication.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In the period April 2020 - September 2020, there were approximately 8,500 applications refused, at initial decision, for Funeral Expenses Payments in Great Britain.</p><p> </p><p>This figure is drawn from the Social Fund Policy, Budget, and Management Information System. It is not quality assured to the same extent as Official / National statistics.</p><p>Notes</p><p>The figure is rounded to the nearest 100.</p><ul><li>Due to the timing of application processing, figures on initial refusals may relate to applications received in the previous year.</li><li>The number of initially unsuccessful applications is not equal to the number of people who unsuccessfully apply for a Funeral Expenses Payment, as individuals may make multiple applications in a given time period.</li><li>The number of initial refusals gives the number of initially unsuccessful applications and not those that are unsuccessful after appeal. An application will only be unsuccessful if it does not meet the qualifying criteria. These include, amongst other criteria, being in receipt of relevant benefits and meeting rules regarding relationship with the deceased. The full qualifying criteria are outlined in section 7 of “The Social Fund: Technical Guidance” publication. (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-social-fund-technical-guidance/the-social-fund-technical-guidance" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-social-fund-technical-guidance/the-social-fund-technical-guidance</a>)</li><li>Differences between any comparisons made of applications received, initial decisions, awards and initial refusals are due to applications being withdrawn; applicants rejecting or not responding to loan offers; and decisions outstanding at the time of the count.</li></ul> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 09/11/2020 18:03:35 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4480 label Biography information for Carolyn Harris

1247062

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	Funeral Payments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of funeral expenses payments claims made in 2019-20 were cleared in (a) 15 working days, (b) 15 working days plus 2 days and (c) 15 working days plus 5 days.
tabling member constituency	Swansea East
tabling member printed	Carolyn Harris
uin	109500
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2020 answer text <p>The information requested, in Great Britain, is reported annually in Appendix 1 of the Social Fund Annual Report, up to 2017/18:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-fund-annual-report-2017-to-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/social-fund-annual-report-2017-to-2018</a></p><p /><p>The information requested for 2019/20 will be published in due course, and so cannot be released ahead of publication.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 09/11/2020 17:49:36 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4480 label Biography information for Carolyn Harris

1247304

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	Pension Credit
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 is taking to encourage eligible people to apply for pension credit.
tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton South West
tabling member printed	Stuart Anderson
uin	109663
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2020 answer text <p>While over 1.5 million pensioners currently receive Pension Credit, the Government wants to make sure that all pensioners eligible can claim the Pension Credit to which they are rightly entitled.</p><p> </p><p>In February we launched a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of Pension Credit and help dispel some of the misconceptions that people might have about Pension Credit eligibility. We are also continuing to work with our stakeholders to help spread the messages from the campaign.</p><p> </p><p>Our online Pension Credit toolkit (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a>) has been updated with the recent awareness campaign materials to supplement the resources it already contains for those working with pensioners, such as guides and information designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In May this year we launched an online claim service for Pension Credit to supplement the existing telephone and postal claim services (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit</a>). The online service enables pensioners to apply for Pension Credit at a time that best suits them.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 04/11/2020 14:28:50 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4742 label Biography information for Stuart Anderson

1247371

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	Pension 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 (a) the effect of non-take up of pension credit by eligible individuals on their need for health and social care services and (b) the implications for auto-enrolment for pension credit of advances in data-matching; if she will make it her policy to commission an auto-enrolment pilot of persons eligible for pension credit; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Pavilion
tabling member printed	Caroline Lucas
uin	109282
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/11/2020 answer text <p>No such assessment has been made.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 06/11/2020 14:56:40 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	3930 label Biography information for Caroline Lucas