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1189915

registered interest
date	23/04/2020
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	Universal Credit: EU Nationals
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether citizens with pre-settled status will be entitled to Universal Credit during the COVID-19 pandemic; and what steps they have taken to support such citizens who have (1) faced discrimination, and (2) are unable to find a job.
tabling member printed	Lord Pendry
uin	HL3426
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Those granted pre-settled status have the same access to benefits as they did prior to the introduction of the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS). EEA citizens with pre-settled status are eligible to claim DWP income-related benefits such as Universal Credit if they are exercising a qualifying EU Treaty Right. This includes those with a worker or self-employed status and EEA workers with retained worker status who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.</p><p> </p><p>Government measures to support workers and their families through Covid-19 are also available for EEA citizens with pre-settled status under the EUSS who meet the eligibility criteria. This includes the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Self-employed Income Support Scheme and Statutory Sick Pay.</p><p>EEA citizens with pre-settled status can also claim contributory benefits providing they meet eligibility criteria.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 28/04/2020 15:04:36 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	457 label Biography information for Lord Pendry

1189323

registered interest
date	22/04/2020
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: Females
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness of the advertising campaigns notifying women affected by changes to the age of eligibility for the state pension.
tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
uin	39007
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Communications around the changes to State Pension age have been clear and comprehensive. Since 1995, people have been notified with leaflets, an extensive advertising campaign and individual letters. During 2012-13, the Department wrote to individuals directly affected by the 2011 Act, informing them of the change to their State Pension age (5.7 million letters sent). Between April 2000 and the end of January 2020, the Department provided more than 33 million personalised State Pension statements to people who requested them (either online or by telephone or post; and based on both old and new State Pension rules). We continue to encourage people to request an estimate, as part of their long-term financial planning.</p><p> </p><p>The workplace pension campaign continues to drive the positive benefits of saving into a workplace pension, maintaining awareness and understanding, whilst the Retirement Provision campaign encourages people to go and check their state pension forecast online to better understand their retirement provision.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 28/04/2020 11:16:23 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1189395

registered interest
date	22/04/2020
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	Universal Credit
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what provisions are in place to support Universal Credit claimants who need to make a non-digital claim.
tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
uin	HL3038
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The Department takes seriously the need to support claimants, and wants Universal Credit to be easy to access. It is designed to be a ‘digital-first’ service, ensuring we make best use of technology to deliver a modern and effective working-age welfare system. This allows our staff to concentrate on those people who require additional support through different channels.</p><p> </p><p>Our Universal Credit Claimant Survey, found that 98 per cent of claimants have internet access and did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be straightforward. A copy of the survey is attached.</p><p> </p><p>For those that are still unable to access or use digital services, or are not able to travel, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline – which is clearly displayed on GOV.UK. In addition, Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland have been delivering the ‘Help to Claim’ service since April 2019. The Citizens Advice ‘Help to Claim’ service offers tailored, practical support to help people make a Universal Credit claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time, and is currently available online and by telephone.</p><p> </p><p>Although the Department offers comprehensive support for claimants to use our digital service, there will be occasions when people are unable to make their claim online, so telephone applications can be accepted. In these instances, information normally available through a claimant’s online account will be communicated in an alternative format, which is best suited to an individual’s circumstances.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 28/04/2020 16:36:39 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott attachment 1 file name HL3038 universal-credit-full-service-claimant-survey.pdf title Universal Credit Claimant Survey
tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1188999

registered interest
date	21/04/2020
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	Universal Credit: EU Nationals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many EU citizens holding (a) settled status and (b) pre-settled status have had their applications for universal credfit refused since 1 March 2020.
tabling member constituency	Leeds Central
tabling member printed	Hilary Benn
uin	38426
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 28/04/2020 15:03:07 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	413 label Biography information for Hilary Benn

1188187

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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	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 her Department has plans to make people that are self-employed and have pension savings exempt from the rules on capital when applying for universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mhairi Black
uin	37726
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Regardless of employment status, any funds held in an occupational or personal pension scheme are disregarded as capital in Universal Credit until the claimant reaches the pension age of the scheme, or withdraws funds from the scheme early.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 28/04/2020 14:16:54 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4421 label Biography information for Mhairi Black

1188211

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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	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 her Department has made of the effect of upfront childcare costs under the childcare element of universal credit on maternal employment rates.
tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
uin	37733
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The Department has not made an assessment of the effect of upfront childcare costs on maternal employment rates and it would require disproportionate costs to do so.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises that high childcare costs can affect parents’ decisions to take up paid work or increase their working hours. Working families claiming Universal Credit can therefore reclaim up to 85 per cent of their eligible childcare costs each month up to £646.35 for one child and £1,108.04 for two or more children. Eligible claimants can also get help from the Flexible Support Fund with initial up-front fees and advance costs as they move into work. Alternatively, help with upfront costs may also be available through Budgeting Advances.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 28/04/2020 16:19:59 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1188218

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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: Remote Working
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff of her Department have formal arrangements to work from home during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	37720
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Working from home data is not recorded on our HR systems. However, the number of staff logging into the Department’s computer system via a secure remote connection shows that approximately 20% of staff were working from home.</p><p> </p><p>We have now provided an additional 6656 computers to enable working from home; we will deploy a further 6,000 in the next fortnight.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 28/04/2020 17:54:58 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

1188219

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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	Social Security Benefits: Coronavirus
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 re-deploy staff of her Department to assist with processing new applications for social security benefits during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	37721
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Our priority as a Department is ensuring people get their benefit payments and that we can continue to support those who need us the most.</p><p> </p><p>We are re-deploying over 10,000 staff to critical frontline services as well as recruiting additional staff to support this priority.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 28/04/2020 13:41:35 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

1188257

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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	Burial: Costs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has plans to provide financial support for burial costs to people in financial hardship with relatives who have died as a result of covid-19.
tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton South West
tabling member printed	Stuart Anderson
uin	37747
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The Government provides support to bereaved families in a number of ways. The Funeral Expenses Payments scheme provides a significant contribution towards the cost of a simple, respectful funeral arranged by recipients of certain income based benefits or tax credits. The scheme pays necessary burial and cremation costs in full, as defined by legislation, plus up to £1000 for other expenses such as the cost of a coffin, church and funeral director fees, which was increased from £700 on 8 April. Scotland has a similar scheme, the Funeral Support Payment scheme. Support for funeral costs for all young people under 18 is provided by the Children’s Funeral Fund for England, with similar schemes in Scotland and Wales. Interest-free Social Fund Budgeting Loans and Universal Credit Budgeting Advances can also be used for funeral expenses. Further financial support is available through Bereavement Support Payments which help working age people whose spouse or civil partner dies.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 37918 question first answered 28/04/2020 13:25:30 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4742 label Biography information for Stuart Anderson

1188262

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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	Statutory Sick Pay: Coronavirus
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 covid-19 outbreak, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) temporary workers, (b) people on zero and low hours contracts and (b) people that are self-employed may claim Statutory Sick Pay.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	37441
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Gig workers or those on zero-hours contracts may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if they meet all eligibility criteria. However, SSP is just one part of our welfare safety net and our wider government offer of support.</p><p> </p><p>Many of those earning below £120 per week, who are not eligible for SSP, are already in receipt of benefits. For those on Universal Credit, their award will rise if their income falls.</p><p>Those who are not already in receipt of benefits may claim Universal Credit and/or new style Employment and Support Allowance, depending on their individual circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>Self-employed people unable to work because they are directly affected by COVID-19 or who are self-isolating will also be eligible for Contributory Employment and Support Allowance which is now payable from the first day of sickness, rather than the eighth.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 28/04/2020 12:19:04 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman