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1092138

registered interest
date	20/03/2019
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: Appeals
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 23 November 2017 to Question 113562 on Personal Independence Payment: Appeals, if it remains the Government's intention that Presenting Officers attend 50 per cent of personal independence and employment and support allowance tribunals.
tabling member constituency	Bermondsey and Old Southwark
tabling member printed	Neil Coyle
uin	234794
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2019 answer text <p>I refer the Hon. Member to the answer provided to Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&amp;max=20&amp;questiontype=AllQuestions&amp;house=commons%2clords&amp;uin=229226" target="_blank">229226</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Department’s main objective is to ensure that Presenting Officers (POs) attend hearings of those complex cases where their presence will be of most benefit to the tribunal in reaching the right decision. The 50% attendance figure was an aspiration based on a set of assumptions made when the Department originally began recruiting additional POs. As POs became established their remit adapted to focus on complex cases; but they also needed to be trained in presenting Universal Credit work capability assessment appeals, as the replacement for ESA. So whilst the initial aspiration has not been met, critically PO attendance for these types of cases has nevertheless been high and will continue to be so in the future.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 25/03/2019 14:53:40 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4368 label Biography information for Neil Coyle

1092152

registered interest
date	20/03/2019
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: Part-time Employment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the universal credit hotline advises claimants who work part-time that taking their entitlement to paid leave will affect their right to universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North East
tabling member printed	Mr Paul Sweeney
uin	234797
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit is calculated using earnings, either full or part time. It does not matter how many hours a claimant works, it is the actual earnings they receive and are reported in an assessment period that count. This would include earnings from paid leave such as holidays.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 25/03/2019 14:41:53 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4642 label Biography information for Mr Paul Sweeney

1092172

registered interest
date	20/03/2019
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: Appeals
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 set out the average time (a) taken to process mandatory reconsiderations and (b) between a mandatory reconsideration decision and a tribunal, in each of the last three years for which data are available.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	234691
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2019 answer text <p>Information on median clearance times for PIP Mandatory Reconsiderations (MRs) is provided in the table below.</p><p /><p><strong>Median Clearance Times, in Calendar Days, for PIP MRs, Normal Rules, Great Britain:</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial Year of MR Clearance</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Median Calendar Days for MR to be Cleared</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>33</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>29</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19 <em>(April 18 – January19)</em></p></td><td><p>37</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>This data on PIP MR clearance times is unpublished data. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision.</p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes quarterly statistics on “ESA: outcomes of Work Capability Assessments including mandatory reconsiderations and appeals” which include figures on median MR clearance times, available at Table 16 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>To provide information on MR clearance times across all other DWP administered benefits would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p /><p>There are a number of reasons for differences in clearance times between benefits. This includes the PIP clearance times being based on the clearance times from the point of registration to the date the MR was cleared. This is different to the MR clearance times for ESA which are based on the date when the Benefit Centre has decided that the MR received is a valid MR, having considered whether they can initially change the decision in the light of any new information to the date when the decision maker at the Dispute Resolution Team (DRT) has cleared and logged the final decision.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Information on the median time between a PIP MR decision and an Appeal being lodged is provided in the table below.</p><p /><p><strong>Median Times, in Calendar Days, between a PIP MR decision and an Appeal being lodged in Great Britain:</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial Year of Appeal lodgement</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Median Calendar Days between an MR Decision and an Appeal being lodged</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>26</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>28</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19 <em>(April – Dec18) </em></p></td><td><p>28</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>This data is unpublished data. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision.</p><p> </p><p>To provide information on the average time between an MR decision being made and appeal being lodged across all other DWP administered benefits would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The Ministry of Justice publish statistics on the average (mean) age of a case at disposal for different benefit types. These in Tables SSCS.3 of the Main Tables, available here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics#tribunal-statistics-quarterly" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics#tribunal-statistics-quarterly</a></p><p> </p><p>These statistics represent the average number of weeks from receipt in Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) to the final outcome within the period. It will include cases cleared at hearing and cases cleared without a hearing which include strike outs, superseded and withdrawals prior to a hearing. An appeal may not necessarily be cleared at its first hearing.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 25/03/2019 16:20:03 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1092178

registered interest
date	20/03/2019
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: 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 she is taking to improve the (a) quality and (b) accuracy of welfare assessments in order to reduce the number of cases going to tribunal.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	234692
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2019 answer text <p>The department is committed to ensuring individuals receive high quality, objective and accurate assessments and we aim to make the right decision first time.</p><p> </p><p>We continue to work extensively with providers to make improvements to guidance, training and supplier audit procedures in order to ensure the quality of the services is continuously improved.</p><p> </p><p>All elements of the providers’ performance are monitored including the requirements for the quality of assessments, which are assessed through independent audit, with feedback provided to the provider.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 25/03/2019 16:32:32 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1092179

registered interest
date	20/03/2019
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: Appeals
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 operates a limit on the time (a) taken for mandatory reconsiderations and (b) between the conclusion of a mandatory reconsideration and the opening of a tribunal.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	234693
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2019 answer text <p>There is no prescribed time limit for clearing Mandatory Reconsiderations; the Department’s focus is on making a decision as soon as we are able to. Timings can vary depending on a number of reasons including engagement with claimants and the availability of evidence.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants have one month to appeal their Mandatory Reconsideration decision. If an appeal is made the Secretary of State must provide her appeal response to the Tribunals Service within 28 days. The appeal will then be listed for hearing by the Tribunals Service.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 25/03/2019 15:19:54 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1092189

registered interest
date	20/03/2019
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: Dementia
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with dementia have had a personal independence payment re-assessment in each year since 2015.
tabling member constituency	Oldham East and Saddleworth
tabling member printed	Debbie Abrahams
uin	234734
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2019 answer text <p>The table below shows the number of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) reassessments, comprising of award reviews and changes of circumstances reviews for claimants who had a main disabling condition of Dementia at the point a decision was made in each financial year from April 2015 to October 2018.</p><p> </p><p>The figures below represent the number of claims, not the number of people that have had an Award Review or Change of Circumstances Review; and shows only the first Award Review for each claim.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 1: Breakdown of award reviews and changes of circumstances Reviews by Financial Year for PIP claimants with Dementia.</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Financial Year</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Award Review</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Changes of Circumstances</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>290</p></td><td><p>110</p></td><td><p>400</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>800</p></td><td><p>250</p></td><td><p>1,050</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>960</p></td><td><p>300</p></td><td><p>1,270</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19*</p></td><td><p>590</p></td><td><p>220</p></td><td><p>800</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Total </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2,640</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>880</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>3,520</strong></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>*Covers April 2018-October 2018 only.</p><p>Source: PIP ADS</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><ul><li>Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10. Components may not sum to totals due to rounding.</li><li>Main disabling condition is as recorded on the PIP Computer System (PIPCS) at time of award review or change of circumstances decision. Claimants' main disabling condition may have changed since their original claim was successful. Claimants may have multiple disabling conditions in which case only the main disabling condition, as decided at assessment, is recorded.</li><li>Definition of award review: The claimant reached their scheduled review date and the Department has sent them a PIP2 form (prior to 25<sup>th</sup> June 2016) or an AR1 form (post 25<sup>th</sup> June 2016). Only one Award review registration per review date is included in this data.</li><li>Definition of change of circumstances: The claimant informed the Department of a change in their circumstances which may lead to a change in award. The claimant has been sent a PIP2 form (if Normal Rules).</li><li>Award reviews and change of circumstances which are subsequently cancelled by the DWP are excluded.</li><li>Data includes cases which were originally new claims or DLA to PIP reassessments and claims made under both Normal Rules and Special Rules for Terminally Ill people.</li><li>A financial year starts on 1<sup>st</sup> April and concludes on 31<sup>st</sup> March the following calendar year.</li><li>Great Britain only.</li></ul><ul><li>This is unpublished data. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision.</li></ul> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 25/03/2019 15:10:39 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4212 label Biography information for Debbie Abrahams

1092190

registered interest
date	20/03/2019
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	Department for Work and Pensions: Consultants
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many consultants her Department has hired since 2016; and what the cost of that hiring was to the public purse.
tabling member constituency	Bootle
tabling member printed	Peter Dowd
uin	234812
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2019 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions has spent the below amounts on Consultancy contracts since 2016, falling within the associated financial years. These figures may include other associated costs.</p><p /><p>2018/19 (to Feb): £25.0 Million *</p><p>2017/18: £34.9 Million</p><p>2016/17: £36.1 Million</p><p>2015/16: £10.6 Million</p><p> </p><p>*in year spend is subject to classification and validation at year end, and then incorporation into the Department’s published accounts.</p><p> </p><p>Since 2016 we have been working to enable specific activities associated with DWP transformation programmes on welfare delivery and transformation of the DWP digital infrastructure, where DWP has exited long-term contracts in line with Cabinet Office directives. Each consultancy contract with a Supplier will vary in the number of consultants deployed under it, relevant to the size, scale and complexity of the work required. This will include a variety of specialist supplier staff that can be engaged on numerous projects for the Supplier at any one time.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not hold information as to the total number of consultants used under these consultancy engagements.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 25/03/2019 17:57:04 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4397 label Biography information for Peter Dowd

1092273

registered interest
date	20/03/2019
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	Post Office Card Account
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on the effect of the franchise of crown post offices to WHSmith on people who receive and access their welfare and pensions from a Post Office card account.
tabling member constituency	Oldham East and Saddleworth
tabling member printed	Debbie Abrahams
uin	234759
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2019 answer text <p>The DWP will continue to maintain Post Office card accounts until 2021 and anyone affected after this date will be able to access their money via a suitable banking product that they are able to open themselves. Most bank accounts are available over the counter at Post Office branches and supportive messages are used to signpost customers and encourage them to continue collecting their money at the Post Office. Where this is not possible, the DWP will provide a suitable replacement service after this date.</p><p /><p>The DWP has a contract in place with Post Office Limited to provide access to Post Office card accounts throughout its network of branches and ATM’s, this includes some retail outlets. The contract ensures that Post Office card account users have reasonable access to their benefit and pension payments.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 25/03/2019 15:34:16 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4212 label Biography information for Debbie Abrahams

1092283

registered interest
date	20/03/2019
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	Access to Work Programme: Finance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to allocate more funding towards Access to Work.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	234861
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2019 answer text <p>ATW is demand led, so funding reflects the numbers of applicants and their needs.</p><p> </p><p>In 17/18 Access to Work made payments to 33,860 people (up 13% on 16/17) and £110.8m was spent on grants, which is a 4% increase in real terms expenditure compared to 16/17. The highest ever number of people with disabilities and health conditions are receiving tailored and flexible support to do their job.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 25/03/2019 15:54:04 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1091204

registered interest
date	19/03/2019
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have applied for universal credit; and how many of those claimants received an advance payment.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	234135
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2019 answer text <p>The latest available information on the number of Universal Credit claims is published and can be found at: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a>.</p><p>Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at: <a href="https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p> </p><p>Internal data shows that for February 2019, around 60% of eligible new claims to Universal Credit Full Service received an advance payment. Subject to some fluctuation, this rate of advance take-up has been broadly consistent. This shows that claimants are being made aware of advances and are using it where they need this help.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 25/03/2019 14:59:48 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon