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1088707

registered interest
date	14/03/2019
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	Social Security Benefits: Disability
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 oral contribution of the hon. Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth, of 6 March 2019, Official Report, column 969, what the terms of reference will be for the review into the adequacy of social security support for disabled people; and who will be involved in that review.
tabling member constituency	Oldham East and Saddleworth
tabling member printed	Debbie Abrahams
uin	232571
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2019 answer text <p>The Department has listened to the concerns and views of a wide range of organisations and individuals and we have been working to deliver real improvements, and we will continue to do so. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced on 5<sup>th</sup> March that the Department would be commissioning a new piece of research to better understand disabled claimants’ experiences of the benefit system, and how to meet their needs.</p><p>This research will be delivered by external research contractors who have expertise in this area and involve in-depth interviews with claimants. We will look to commission this work later this year, with a view to publishing next year. As with all externally commissioned DWP social research, the findings will be published and available on the gov.uk website.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 19/03/2019 10:10:06 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4212 label Biography information for Debbie Abrahams

1088708

registered interest
date	14/03/2019
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	Social Security Benefits: Disability
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 oral contribution of the hon. Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth, of 6 March 2019, Official Report, column 969, what plans she has to change the culture of her Department.
tabling member constituency	Oldham East and Saddleworth
tabling member printed	Debbie Abrahams
uin	232572
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2019 answer text <p>As set out in the Secretary of State’s speech, the Department is committed to continue helping disabled people to achieve their potential and lead positive flourishing lives</p><p> </p><p>We have listened to, and acted on a number of concerns raised by our customers and stakeholders, which includes stopping those who have been awarded the highest level of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), whose needs are unlikely to decrease, now receive an ongoing award – with only a light touch review a decade later and SPA announcement. We have also listened to the feedback from claimants about their experience of assessments which is why we are now trialling the video recording of PIP assessments.</p><p> </p><p>However, there is more that we need to do, which is why we have announced it is our ambition to go further, to listen and reform effectively to deliver policies, strategies and structures that are co-produced with disabled people.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 19/03/2019 14:47:32 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4212 label Biography information for Debbie Abrahams

1088745

registered interest
date	14/03/2019
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	Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many mandatory reconsiderations of employment and support allowance appeals have been successful in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	232645
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2019 answer text <p>An appeal can only be made against a decision which has gone through the Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) process. In law it is not possible to revise a tribunal decision.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Statistics on the number of MRs for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) where the initial decision was revised are published in Table 14 of the quarterly statistical publication “ESA: outcomes of Work Capability Assessments including mandatory reconsiderations and appeals: March 2019”, available here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2019</a></p><p> </p><p>Information on the number of ESA appeals that have been lapsed (which is where DWP changed the decision after an appeal was lodged but before it was heard at Tribunal) is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 232646 question first answered 19/03/2019 10:20:50 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1088746

registered interest
date	14/03/2019
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	Employment and Support Allowance: Appeals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many reconsiderations of employment and support allowance decisions occurred after her Department had been notified that an appeal had been lodged in each of the last three years.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	232646
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2019 answer text <p>An appeal can only be made against a decision which has gone through the Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) process. In law it is not possible to revise a tribunal decision.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Statistics on the number of MRs for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) where the initial decision was revised are published in Table 14 of the quarterly statistical publication “ESA: outcomes of Work Capability Assessments including mandatory reconsiderations and appeals: March 2019”, available here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2019" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2019</a></p><p> </p><p>Information on the number of ESA appeals that have been lapsed (which is where DWP changed the decision after an appeal was lodged but before it was heard at Tribunal) is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 232645 question first answered 19/03/2019 10:20:50 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1088753

registered interest
date	14/03/2019
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	Disability: Cost of Living
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 Scope report entitled Disability Price Tag 2019, what steps she is taking to reduce the extra costs faced by disabled people.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	232508
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2019 answer text <p>The Department provides a range of benefits to reduce the financial pressure on disabled people and those with long term health conditions. Local Authorities and the National Health Service provide a wide range of additional services.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2010, spending on extra-costs disability benefits has increased by £5billion in real terms. These benefits have been increased with inflation and were protected from the benefit freeze.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, we are working closely with private industry to better recognise the needs of disabled people and ensure they are fully included in society. Initiatives led by the Department, such as Sector Champions, and those led by the private sector and supported by the Department, such as Purple Tuesday, aim to work with businesses to recognise the benefits of ensuring they are accessible and inclusive for disabled people.</p><p> </p><p>As I have recently announced, we plan to commission independent research to better understand the needs of disabled people and how health and disability benefits can better support them.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 19/03/2019 15:05:41 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1088754

registered interest
date	14/03/2019
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	Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that personal independence payment assessments address the full range of extra costs faced by disabled people.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	232509
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/03/2019 answer text <p>Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a more modern, dynamic and fairer benefit than its predecessor, Disability Living Allowance (DLA), designed to focus support on those experiencing the greatest barriers to living independently. DLA had not been fundamentally reformed since it was introduced over 25 years ago and it lacked some of the basic checks and reviews that are integral to most other State-funded support.</p><p> </p><p>Built on rules developed for disability benefits created in the 1970s, DLA was also a product of its time, focusing primarily on physical disabilities, whereas we now have a better understanding of the needs of individuals with mental health conditions, learning difficulties, and sensory impairments like blindness. Understanding of conditions like autism has also changed measurably. That is why we introduced PIP. Reform of DLA had long been overdue and the benefit had to be changed to better support disabled people to lead independent lives as they want to today. PIP provides an opportunity to better target support for disabled people and to enable them to lead full, active and independent lives.</p><p> </p><p>At the core of the benefit’s design is the principle that awards of the benefit should be made according to a claimant’s overall level of need; entitlement being assessed on the basis of the needs arising from a health condition or disability. It is intended to act as a contribution <br>towards the extra costs that arise as a result of a long-term health condition or disability. We take all feedback regarding the benefit and assessment process seriously; and we remain committed to continuous improvements and working closely with claimants and <br>representative organisations.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 232034 232968 question first answered 20/03/2019 15:11:47 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1088755

registered interest
date	14/03/2019
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: Disability
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 protections to ensure no disabled person receiving a disability premium within employment support allowance has to transition to universal credit via natural migration.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	232510
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2019 answer text <p>The Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) (SDP Gateway) Amendment Regulations 2019 prevents legacy claimants who are in receipt of the Severe Disability Premium from moving to Universal Credit if they experience a change in circumstances, until they are moved by the Department. This ensures that these claimants will not be moved onto Universal Credit until transitional protections are available, thereby safeguarding their existing benefit entitlement.</p><p> </p><p>The Severe Disability Premium claimant group has very specific characteristics including substantial care needs, with most having severe disabilities that would limit their ability to work quite significantly.</p><p> </p><p>The draft Universal Credit (Managed Migration Pilot and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019, which are currently before the House, provide for transitional protections for claimants who are moved onto Universal Credit by the Department, without experiencing a change in circumstances, ensuring no-one loses out at the point of transition.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit does not replicate the Severe Disability Premium and other disability premiums, which has allowed us to target additional support to a wider group and create a more streamlined system.</p><p> </p><p>The right levels of support to eligible Universal Credit claimants can be provided through two rates of payments, reflecting the current ESA components. The Universal Credit rate for the most severely disabled people, the limited capability for work and work related activity (LCWRA) addition is £328.32 per month, much higher than the equivalent rate for the Employment and Support Allowance support group which is £163.15 per month, and will result in many more people being better off on Universal Credit.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 232511 question first answered 21/03/2019 13:58:39 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1088756

registered interest
date	14/03/2019
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: Disability
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 create a new disability element within the universal credit system to replace the disability premiums available within employment support allowance.
tabling member constituency	Stroud
tabling member printed	Dr David Drew
uin	232511
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/03/2019 answer text <p>The Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) (SDP Gateway) Amendment Regulations 2019 prevents legacy claimants who are in receipt of the Severe Disability Premium from moving to Universal Credit if they experience a change in circumstances, until they are moved by the Department. This ensures that these claimants will not be moved onto Universal Credit until transitional protections are available, thereby safeguarding their existing benefit entitlement.</p><p> </p><p>The Severe Disability Premium claimant group has very specific characteristics including substantial care needs, with most having severe disabilities that would limit their ability to work quite significantly.</p><p> </p><p>The draft Universal Credit (Managed Migration Pilot and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019, which are currently before the House, provide for transitional protections for claimants who are moved onto Universal Credit by the Department, without experiencing a change in circumstances, ensuring no-one loses out at the point of transition.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit does not replicate the Severe Disability Premium and other disability premiums, which has allowed us to target additional support to a wider group and create a more streamlined system.</p><p> </p><p>The right levels of support to eligible Universal Credit claimants can be provided through two rates of payments, reflecting the current ESA components. The Universal Credit rate for the most severely disabled people, the limited capability for work and work related activity (LCWRA) addition is £328.32 per month, much higher than the equivalent rate for the Employment and Support Allowance support group which is £163.15 per month, and will result in many more people being better off on Universal Credit.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 232510 question first answered 21/03/2019 13:58:39 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	252 label Biography information for Dr David Drew

1088757

registered interest
date	14/03/2019
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	Independent Case Examiner: Complaints
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the current waiting time is from the submission of a complaint to the office of the Independent Case Examiner to the allocation of the case to an Investigation Case Manager; and what steps she is taking to reduce that time.
tabling member constituency	Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport
tabling member printed	Luke Pollard
uin	232654
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2019 answer text <p>As at 15 March 2019, the Independent Case Examiner’s (ICE) Office was allocating cases to Investigation Case Managers that were accepted for investigation on the following dates:</p><p> </p><ul><li>DWP Pension, Disability and Working Age benefits - 29 November 2017</li><li>Child Maintenance Group - 5 December 2017</li><li>Contracted Provision - 8 January 2018</li></ul><p> </p><p>The ICE Office resources are reviewed on an annual basis and the Office received funding for thirteen additional staff in the current financial year (2018/2019). Productivity within the ICE Office has increased during the current reporting year, having cleared 1,139 complaints between March 2018 and February 2019, compared to 868 in the same period the previous year.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 19/03/2019 14:47:32 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4682 label Biography information for Luke Pollard

1088765

registered interest
date	14/03/2019
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, when the gross weekly income thresholds for each child maintenance rate of pay were last updated.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	232605
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/03/2019 answer text <p>The Child Support Maintenance Calculation Regulations 2012 introduced a new gross weekly income threshold for child maintenance, for those earning between £800 and £3000 a week.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 19/03/2019 14:19:51 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley