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1131990
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-06-13more like thismore than 2019-06-13
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Universal Credit: Pensioners more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether pensioner couples who are no longer eligible for pension credit and housing benefit because one of the couple is below state pension age, will still be eligible to have their rent paid directly to their landlord under universal credit. more like this
tabling member constituency East Ham more like this
tabling member printed
Stephen Timms more like this
uin 264296 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer remove filter
answer text <p>Mixed age couples already claiming Pension Credit and/or Housing Benefit for pensioners immediately before the implementation date on 15 May 2019 will not be affected by the policy, so long as they remain entitled to either benefit.</p><p> </p><p>Those making a new claim to Universal Credit, or already claiming it, will be able to have a conversation with their work coach or case manager, in the same way as other claimants, so that a managed payment to their landlord can be considered in Universal Credit for their housing costs.</p><p> </p><p>Couples who would have been eligible for Pension Credit or Housing Benefit for pensioners under the previous rules but had not claimed before 15 May 2019, will have up to 13 August 2019 to make a backdated claim to 14 May 2019.</p> more like this
answering member constituency Colchester more like this
answering member printed Will Quince remove filter
question first answered
less than 2019-06-18T15:07:20.52Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-18T15:07:20.52Z
answering member
4423
label Biography information for Will Quince more like this
tabling member
163
label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms more like this
1130982
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-06-10more like thismore than 2019-06-10
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Universal Credit: Scotland more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the effect of universal credit on the level of rent arrears owed to Scottish local authorities; and if she will make a statement. more like this
tabling member constituency Coatbridge, Chryston and Bellshill more like this
tabling member printed
Hugh Gaffney more like this
uin 262433 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer remove filter
answer text <p>The Department has not made an assessment of this nature.</p><p> </p><p>Caution should be exercised when considering any assessment of arrears derived from local authority level data which seeks to compare the legacy and Universal Credit welfare systems. This is because they do not compare groups with the same characteristics; typically, the legacy benefit group have been on benefits for some time, where the arrears may be under long-term management. The Universal Credit group, on the other hand, are often new to benefits, and are likely to have experienced a change in their circumstances – for example, a debt-creating event like losing a job or separation. Any arrears for this group will not have been under management and had time to clear.</p><p> </p><p>The initial analytical work we have carried out with a housing provider suggests that many tenants are arriving on Universal Credit with pre-existing rent arrears, that their arrears tend to increase prior to making a claim for Universal Credit, and that Universal Credit actually appears to be helping to clear arrears over time. We are currently extending this analysis to include a number of other housing providers. It will be published when completed. Furthermore, according to latest figures in November 2018 about 8 per cent of social rented households were on Universal Credit; therefore, it is difficult to see how a national trend can be attributed to Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>We have, however, responded to concerns in this area by putting a number of safeguards in place, such as 100% advances repayable over 12 months, increasing to 16 months in October 2021; a two-week Transition to Universal Credit Housing Payment; a new Help to Claim service to assist people to make their claim more easily; and Managed Payment to Landlord Arrangements, which allow for payments direct to the landlord if the tenant is likely to have difficulty in managing their rent payments, is unlikely to pay their rent or is in rent arrears equivalent to two months.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, in Scotland, the Department delivers Universal Credit Scottish choices on behalf of the Scottish Government, providing the option of Universal Credit being paid twice a month rather than monthly, and having Universal Credit housing element being paid directly to landlords.</p>
answering member constituency Colchester more like this
answering member printed Will Quince remove filter
question first answered
less than 2019-06-18T15:28:46.223Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-18T15:28:46.223Z
answering member
4423
label Biography information for Will Quince more like this
tabling member
4614
label Biography information for Hugh Gaffney more like this
1131067
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2019-06-10more like thismore than 2019-06-10
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Disability: Children more like this
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the role of the Minister for Disabled People is in co-ordinating children and families policy across Government. more like this
tabling member constituency Mid Dorset and North Poole more like this
tabling member printed
Michael Tomlinson more like this
uin 262454 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer remove filter
answer text <p>The Minister for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance leads on policy for children and families within DWP – including the delivery of the Reducing Parental Conflict programme, the Child Maintenance Service, Maternity benefits and the Family Test which was developed to ensure that potential impacts on family relationships and functioning are considered in advice put to Ministers. To strengthen implementation of the Family Test, we are currently working across government with a newly created Family Test Network.</p><p> </p><p>To fulfil this role DWP works with a range of other departments to ensure the policy we deliver for children and families is effective, but it does not coordinate children and families’ policy across government.</p><p> </p><p>Part of the role of the Minister of State for Disabled People, Health and Work is to work across government to encourage development of policies to tackle the barriers disabled people face to realising their full participation in society. Whilst disability policy is the responsibility of all departments, by working together we can improve disabled people’s participation, for which we are jointly responsible.</p>
answering member constituency Colchester more like this
answering member printed Will Quince remove filter
question first answered
less than 2019-06-18T15:50:44.183Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-18T15:50:44.183Z
answering member
4423
label Biography information for Will Quince more like this
tabling member
4497
label Biography information for Michael Tomlinson more like this