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1718836

registered interest
date	16/05/2024
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, if he will make it his policy to amend Universal Credit regulations to take into account the 53-week rent year for 2024.
tabling member constituency	Watford
tabling member printed	Dean Russell
uin	26788
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/05/2024 answer text <p>Universal Credit payments are designed to mirror the world of work, with calendar monthly calculations and payments reflecting the way most working people are paid.</p><p> </p><p>As no calendar year contains 53 weeks, Universal Credit always converts weekly amounts to monthly sums using 52 weeks.  The legitimacy of this approach was confirmed by the High Court having been tested via a judicial review.</p><p> </p><p>All of our policies are open to review and may be subject to change in the future; however, we have no plans at present to make changes to this policy.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 22/05/2024 16:19:17 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4812 label Biography information for Dean Russell

1697953

registered interest
date	21/03/2024
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 steps his Department is taking to reduce the number of active personnel on Universal Credit.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	19770
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2024 answer text <p>Serving armed forces personnel can claim Universal Credit in exactly the same way as any other citizen. Any entitlement will depend on a number of factors, including earnings and any other income; capital; constitution of household; and housing costs.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 15/04/2024 10:53:56 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

1687419

registered interest
date	05/02/2024
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, pursuant to the Answer of 2 February 2024 to Question 12040 on Universal Credit, if she will extend data sharing to include the details of (a) addresses receiving housing allowance and (b) people receiving that allowance living in private rented accommodation to local authorities with selective licencing schemes.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	12965
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2024 answer text <p>DWP already shares UC data with Local Authorities for various reasons where we have legal powers and a legal basis to do so and where the sharing can be done in compliance with all other UK GDPR requirements.</p><p> </p><p>DWP is committed to maximising the use of its data, where it is appropriate and legal to do so to meet the primary objectives of:</p><p> </p><p>- reducing fraud and error</p><p>- creating the right incentives to get more people into work</p><p>- protecting the most vulnerable in our society and</p><p>- delivering fairness to those claiming benefit and to the taxpayer</p><p> </p><p>DWP works closely with DLUHC on housing quality, whilst in principle we are willing to consider whether UC data could be shared with Local Authorities for selective licensing purposes or other Private Rented Sector enforcement measures, we would need to see a detailed proposal and would make decisions on a case-by-case basis.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 08/02/2024 13:48:02 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1684027

registered interest
date	22/01/2024
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, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to ensure that the payment of Universal Credit is adjusted in 2024 to take into account the 53-week rent year.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Sir Stephen Timms
uin	10699
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2024 answer text <p>Universal Credit always converts weekly amounts to monthly sums using 52 weeks. This may lead to a slight advantage to the claimant when converting weekly incomes and to a slight disadvantage when dealing with outgoings. The system is used because it is simple to operate and understand.</p><p> </p><p>Discretionary Housing Payments can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. Since 2011, the government has provided nearly £1.7 billion in Discretionary Housing Payments to local authorities.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 10701 question first answered 25/01/2024 15:42:16 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1671973

registered interest
date	21/11/2023
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 number of Universal Credit claimants who will have 53 charging days for rent in 2024.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Sir Stephen Timms
uin	2745
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2023 answer text <p>Universal Credit always converts weekly amounts to monthly sums using 52 weeks. The issue of there being 53 rent charging days in a year is relevant only for Universal Credit (UC) claimants who have their rent charged on a weekly basis and have 53 charging periods in a calendar year.</p><p> </p><p>UC claimants in the Social Rented Sector are typically charged rent weekly every Monday and so in a typical year their 12 monthly UC payments will align with the 52 charging periods. Every six years, or five if including a leap year, they will have 53 charging periods. In 2024 there will be 53 of these periods with the 53rd rent payment occurring on the final day of the calendar year. 53 charging periods will not apply in all UC claims and some claimants will not have a 53 charging period year during the life of their benefit claim.</p><p>We have considered alternative options for those with weekly tenancies, but each have their own limitations and disadvantages for claimants. The matter occurs because weekly charging periods can never be accurately aligned with monthly periods. Tenants of social housing providers are used to managing varying outgoings every month depending on whether four or five rent payments are due – not just during a year in which there are 53 charging periods.</p><p>Discretionary Housing Payments can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. Since 2011, the government has provided nearly £1.7 billion in Discretionary Housing Payments to local authorities.</p><p>We do not have forecasts for this group for 2024. The most recent data from DWP’s statistical release platform <em>Stat-Xplore</em> is for August 2023 which shows that there were 1,664,104 Social Rented Sector households receiving housing support through UC, of which the department’s analysts estimate that approximately 1.4 million (85%) were charged weekly.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 2746 question first answered 27/11/2023 16:17:00 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1671974

registered interest
date	21/11/2023
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 he has made of the (a) financial and (b) practical implications for Universal Credit claimants of 53 charging days for rent in 2024.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Sir Stephen Timms
uin	2746
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/11/2023 answer text <p>Universal Credit always converts weekly amounts to monthly sums using 52 weeks. The issue of there being 53 rent charging days in a year is relevant only for Universal Credit (UC) claimants who have their rent charged on a weekly basis and have 53 charging periods in a calendar year.</p><p> </p><p>UC claimants in the Social Rented Sector are typically charged rent weekly every Monday and so in a typical year their 12 monthly UC payments will align with the 52 charging periods. Every six years, or five if including a leap year, they will have 53 charging periods. In 2024 there will be 53 of these periods with the 53rd rent payment occurring on the final day of the calendar year. 53 charging periods will not apply in all UC claims and some claimants will not have a 53 charging period year during the life of their benefit claim.</p><p>We have considered alternative options for those with weekly tenancies, but each have their own limitations and disadvantages for claimants. The matter occurs because weekly charging periods can never be accurately aligned with monthly periods. Tenants of social housing providers are used to managing varying outgoings every month depending on whether four or five rent payments are due – not just during a year in which there are 53 charging periods.</p><p>Discretionary Housing Payments can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. Since 2011, the government has provided nearly £1.7 billion in Discretionary Housing Payments to local authorities.</p><p>We do not have forecasts for this group for 2024. The most recent data from DWP’s statistical release platform <em>Stat-Xplore</em> is for August 2023 which shows that there were 1,664,104 Social Rented Sector households receiving housing support through UC, of which the department’s analysts estimate that approximately 1.4 million (85%) were charged weekly.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 2745 question first answered 27/11/2023 16:17:00 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1658652

registered interest
date	06/09/2023
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 his Department made of the impact of the rise in the cost of living on working families who (a) qualify and (b) do not qualify for universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Lanark and Hamilton East
tabling member printed	Angela Crawley
uin	198163
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>No such assessments have been made.</p><p> </p><p>The Government understands the pressures people, including parents, are facing with the cost of living and is taking action to help. Overall, we are providing total support of over £94bn over 2022-23 and 2023- 24 to help households and individuals with the rising cost of bills.</p><p> </p><p>From April 2023, everyone who receives a state benefit or pension will have seen their benefit rates increase by 10.1%. In order to increase the number of households who can benefit from these uprating decisions, the benefit cap levels have also increased by the same amount.</p><p> </p><p>To support parents who are in work, from 1 April, the National Living Wage (NLW) increased by 9.7% to £10.42 an hour for workers aged 23 and over - the largest ever cash increase for the NLW.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that high childcare costs can affect parents’ decisions to take up paid work or increase their working hours. That is why, as announced at the Spring Budget, we are investing billions in additional childcare support for parents of toddlers, investing in wraparound childcare in schools, and increasing financial support for, and expectations of, parents claiming Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>Households on eligible means-tested benefits will get up to £900 in Cost of Living Payments. The first £301 payments have been issued to 8.3 million households, and two further payments will follow this autumn and in spring 2024. In addition, 6.4 million individuals on eligible ‘extra-costs’ disability benefits have also recently received a further £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment meaning households with more than one disabled person will receive multiple Disability Cost of Living Payments.</p><p> </p><p>For people who require additional support, in England, the Household Support Fund will continue until March 2024. This year long extension allows Local Authorities in England to continue to provide discretionary support to those most in need with the significantly rising cost of living. The guidance for Local Authorities can be found <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/household-support-fund-guidance-for-local-councils/1-april-2023-to-31-march-2024-household-support-fund-guidance-for-county-councils-and-unitary-authorities-in-england" target="_blank">here.</a> Local Authorities have the discretion to design their own local schemes within the parameters of this guidance and grant determination that DWP have set out for the fund. Local Authorities are expected to support households in the most need, and in particular those who may not be eligible for the other support Government has recently made available, however, are nevertheless in need. The Devolved Administrations will receive consequential funding as usual to spend at their discretion.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 198161 question first answered 11/09/2023 15:03:28 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4469 label Biography information for Angela Crawley

1600764

registered interest
date	02/03/2023
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, if he will take steps to ensure that, when setting the qualifying dates for 2023/24 cost of living payments, Universal Credit claimants who are paid four-weekly and who are therefore not eligible for the Spring 2023 payment will be able to receive the Autumn 2023 and Spring 2024 payments.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham North
tabling member printed	Alex Norris
uin	157008
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2023 answer text <p>Last year we successfully delivered tens of millions of Cost of Living Payments by keeping the policy simple. Whatever eligibility dates are selected there will be always be some individuals who are ineligible in the qualifying period – whether that is due for example to their earnings, capital or other income, or for a combination of reasons. However, we are delivering the Cost of Living Payment in three separate payments over 2023/24 to reduce the chance of someone missing out altogether.</p><p> </p><p>For those who require additional support, we are extending the Household Support Fund throughout the next financial year. This will allow local authorities in England to help households with the cost of essentials including those in need who may not be eligible for the other support we have recently made available. The devolved administrations will receive consequential funding as usual to spend at their discretion.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 07/03/2023 10:48:23 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4641 label Biography information for Alex Norris

1588355

registered interest
date	22/02/2023
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 his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of freezing the maximum amount of support for childcare costs in Universal Credit in 2023-24 at 2022-23 levels on living standards.
tabling member constituency	Leicester South
tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
uin	150492
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2023 answer text <p>No such assessment has been made.</p><p> </p><p>In Universal Credit, working families can claim up to 85%, increased from 70% in legacy benefits, of their eligible registered childcare costs each month regardless of the hours worked. This equates to a maximum support of £646.35 per month for one child and £1,108.04 per month for two or more children.</p><p> </p><p>The current childcare offer is comprehensive, broad ranging and reflects different family circumstances, covering children over a range of ages. We believe that helping parents with their childcare costs is one of the best ways to help people into work, support families with the cost of living, and ensure every child has the opportunity of a high quality early education.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 27/02/2023 15:21:36 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1588362

registered interest
date	22/02/2023
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 households claiming childcare cost payments in Universal Credit have requested a Universal Credit advance to help with the upfront cost of childcare in the last year.
tabling member constituency	Leicester South
tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
uin	150493
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2023 answer text <p>The information requested is not available as reasons for use of an advance are not readily available.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 150494 question first answered 27/02/2023 15:26:18 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth