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1548635

registered interest
date	06/12/2022
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	Housing Benefit: Rents
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 has he made of the adequacy of housing benefits in light of increasing rental costs.
tabling member constituency	Slough
tabling member printed	Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi
uin	102971
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2022 answer text <p>The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) determines the maximum financial support available for renters in the private rented sector who are in receipt of housing benefit or the housing element of universal credit. LHA rates are not intended to meet all rents in all areas.</p><p> </p><p>For Great Britain in May 2022, 55% of the households on LHA had rents higher than the LHA rates. For these households the average gap was £146 per month.</p><p> </p><p>In 2020 LHA rates were raised to the 30th percentile, a significant investment of almost £1 billion, we have maintained the increase since then so that everyone who benefited from the increase continues to do so.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that rents are increasing but the challenging fiscal environment means that difficult decisions were necessary to ensure support is targeted effectively. The Chancellor announced at Autumn Statement a package of targeted support worth £26 billion.</p><p> </p><p>To protect the most vulnerable, working age and disability benefits will be increased in line with inflation for 2023-24, increasing expenditure by £11 billion in 23/24. In addition, to ensure that households will see an increase in their benefits following uprating – the benefit cap will also be increased in line with CPI (10.1%) in April 2023.</p><p> </p><p>For those who require extra support, the government is extending the Household Support Fund providing an additional £1bn to help with the cost of household essentials, for the 2023-24 financial year, on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing total funding for this support to £2.5 billion.</p><p> </p><p>For those who require additional support with housing costs, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available. Since 2011 we have provided nearly £1.5 billion in funding for DHPs.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 08/12/2022 10:53:15 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4638 label Biography information for Mr Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi

1548556

registered interest
date	05/12/2022
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	Cost of Living Payments: Medical Equipment
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 introduce additional Cost of Living payments for those using powered medical equipment at home.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, West Derby
tabling member printed	Ian Byrne
uin	103035
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2022 answer text <p>The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living, including disabled people, and has taken further, decisive action to support people with their energy bills. The Energy Price Guarantee is supporting millions of households with rising energy costs, and will continue to do so through cost of living support announced earlier this year, which includes:</p><p> </p><ul><li>the £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme;</li><li>a Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 to six million people in recognition of the extra costs they face, including with energy costs;</li><li>up to £650 in Cost of Living Payments for the eight million households in receipt of a means-tested benefit;</li><li>a one-off payment of £300 through, and as an addition to, the Winter Fuel Payment from November to pensioner households.</li></ul><p> </p><p>To ensure ongoing stability and certainty for households, in the Autumn Statement, we announced further support for next year designed to target the most vulnerable households. This cost of living support is worth £26 billion in 2023-24, in addition to uprating benefits for working age households and disabled people as well as the basic and new State Pensions by 10.1%. In order to increase the number of households who can benefit from these uprating decisions the benefit cap will also be increased by 10.1%. Alongside further Cost of Living Payments for the most vulnerable, the amended Energy Price Guarantee will save the average UK household £500 in 2023-24.</p><p> </p><p>For those who require extra support, the Government is providing an additional £1 billion of funding, including Barnett impact, to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England in the next financial year. This is on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing total funding to £2.5 billion. In England, this will be delivered through an extension to the Household Support Fund backed by £842 million, running from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, which local authorities use to help households with the cost of essentials. It will be for the devolved administrations to decide how to allocate their additional Barnett funding.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 103036 question first answered 08/12/2022 10:56:09 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4831 label Biography information for Ian Byrne

1548557

registered interest
date	05/12/2022
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	Cost of Living Payments: Medical Equipment
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 an assessment of the adequacy of Cost of Living payments at enabling people who use powered medical equipment at home to pay their energy costs.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, West Derby
tabling member printed	Ian Byrne
uin	103036
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2022 answer text <p>The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living, including disabled people, and has taken further, decisive action to support people with their energy bills. The Energy Price Guarantee is supporting millions of households with rising energy costs, and will continue to do so through cost of living support announced earlier this year, which includes:</p><p> </p><ul><li>the £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme;</li><li>a Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 to six million people in recognition of the extra costs they face, including with energy costs;</li><li>up to £650 in Cost of Living Payments for the eight million households in receipt of a means-tested benefit;</li><li>a one-off payment of £300 through, and as an addition to, the Winter Fuel Payment from November to pensioner households.</li></ul><p> </p><p>To ensure ongoing stability and certainty for households, in the Autumn Statement, we announced further support for next year designed to target the most vulnerable households. This cost of living support is worth £26 billion in 2023-24, in addition to uprating benefits for working age households and disabled people as well as the basic and new State Pensions by 10.1%. In order to increase the number of households who can benefit from these uprating decisions the benefit cap will also be increased by 10.1%. Alongside further Cost of Living Payments for the most vulnerable, the amended Energy Price Guarantee will save the average UK household £500 in 2023-24.</p><p> </p><p>For those who require extra support, the Government is providing an additional £1 billion of funding, including Barnett impact, to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England in the next financial year. This is on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing total funding to £2.5 billion. In England, this will be delivered through an extension to the Household Support Fund backed by £842 million, running from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, which local authorities use to help households with the cost of essentials. It will be for the devolved administrations to decide how to allocate their additional Barnett funding.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove grouped question UIN 103035 question first answered 08/12/2022 10:56:09 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4831 label Biography information for Ian Byrne

1548633

registered interest
date	05/12/2022
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	Means-tested Benefits
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to introduce means testing for (a) Disability Living Allowance and (b) Personal Independence Payment.
tabling member constituency	Richmond Park
tabling member printed	Sarah Olney
uin	102970
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2022 answer text <p>We have no plans to means test Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP).</p><p>Both DLA and PIP are intended to act as a contribution towards the extra costs that arise as a result of a long-term health condition, or disability, and have been non-means tested since they were introduced.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 08/12/2022 11:11:09 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4591 label Biography information for Sarah Olney

1547617

registered interest
date	02/12/2022
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, when he will formally respond to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s 2021 report into the impact of State Pension Age equalisation on women.
tabling member constituency	Enfield North
tabling member printed	Feryal Clark
uin	101812
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2022 answer text <p>It would not be appropriate to comment on the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman's Stage one report published on 20 July 2021. The Ombudsman’s investigation is ongoing and section 7(2) of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 states that Ombudsman investigations “shall be conducted in private”.</p><p> </p><p>This is a multi-staged process, and the Ombudsman has not given his final findings on the investigation. We are cooperating with the Ombudsman’s investigation.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott question first answered 08/12/2022 11:16:15 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	4822 label Biography information for Feryal Clark

1547299

registered interest
date	01/12/2022
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	Carer's Allowance
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 in receipt of Carer’s Allowance have earnings below the earnings threshold for that benefit.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	101014
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2022 answer text <p>By default, all Carer’s Allowance (CA) recipients in employment have earnings below the CA earnings limit, as it is not possible to claim CA while earnings from employment are above the CA earnings limit. Those receiving CA who are not in employment are not affected by the CA earnings limit.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 08/12/2022 11:12:59 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1547412

registered interest
date	01/12/2022
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	Pensioners: Greater London
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 are taking to support pensioners in (a) Hampstead and Kilburn constituency and (b) Greater London with the rising cost of living.
tabling member constituency	Hampstead and Kilburn
tabling member printed	Tulip Siddiq
uin	101027
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2022 answer text <p>All pensioner households in Hampstead and Kilburn constituency and Greater London are in the process of receiving an extra £300 on top of their winter fuel payment to help them cover the rising cost of energy this winter. For those in receipt of Pension Credit the second Cost of Living Payment of £324 was issued in November. Pensioners in receipt of eligible disability benefits will have also received the disability cost of living payment of £150 issued in September.</p><p> </p><p>The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and that pensioners are disproportionately impacted by higher energy costs, and many low-income pensioner households do not claim the means tested benefits they are entitled to. That is why, in addition to the £37 billion of support we have provided for cost of living pressures in 2022/23, we are acting now to ensure support continues throughout 2023/24.</p><p> </p><p>To ensure stability and certainty for households, in the Autumn Statement the Government has announced £26 billion in cost of living support for 2023/24. In 2023/24, households on eligible means-tested benefits will get up to a further £900 in Cost of Living Payments. A £300 payment will be made to pensioner households and individuals in receipt of eligible disability benefits will receive a £150 payment. Also included is the amended Energy Price Guarantee which will save the average UK household £500 in 2023/24 and raising the benefit cap by 10.1% in line with inflation.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott question first answered 08/12/2022 11:58:26 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	4518 label Biography information for Tulip Siddiq

1546836

registered interest
date	30/11/2022
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	Pension Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what was the total (a) expenditure on and (b) number of benefit claimants receiving Pension Credit in each of the last five years, in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales, (iv) Northern Ireland, (v) each local authority and (vi) each constituency.
tabling member constituency	Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
tabling member printed	Neale Hanvey
uin	100006
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2022 answer text <p>Estimates on the number of benefit claimants receiving Pension Credit in each of the last five years, in (i) England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales can be found on Stat-Xplore here: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for using Stat-Xplore is available at: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p> </p><p>Estimates on total expenditure on Pension Credit in each of the last five years, in (i) England, (ii) Scotland and (iii) Wales can be found in the latest benefit expenditure tables here:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1035981/benefit-expenditure-by-country-and-region-2020-21.ods" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1035981/benefit-expenditure-by-country-and-region-2020-21.ods</a></p><p> </p><p>Local Authority and Parliamentary Constituency Pension Credit caseload data can be found on Stat-Xplore here: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk</a></p><p> </p><p>Local Authority and Parliamentary Constituency Pension Credit expenditure data are available here:</p><p> </p><p>Local Authority:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1035984/benefit-expenditure-by-local-authority-2020-21.ods" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1035984/benefit-expenditure-by-local-authority-2020-21.ods</a></p><p> </p><p>Parliamentary Constituency:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1035994/benefit-expenditure-by-parliamentary-constituency-2020-21.ods" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1035994/benefit-expenditure-by-parliamentary-constituency-2020-21.ods</a></p><p> </p><p>Benefit statistics in Northern Ireland are produced by the Department for Communities, and can be found here: <a href="https://www.communities-ni.gov.uk/topics/benefits-statistics" target="_blank">Benefits statistics | Department for Communities (communities-ni.gov.uk</a></p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott question first answered 08/12/2022 11:00:05 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	4782 label Biography information for Neale Hanvey

1546844

registered interest
date	30/11/2022
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: Long Covid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she is taking steps to provide long-term support with seeking employment to people suffering from long covid.
tabling member constituency	Leeds East
tabling member printed	Richard Burgon
uin	99916
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2022 answer text <p>A range of Government initiatives are supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, including those suffering from long covid, to start, stay and succeed in work. These include:</p><ul><li>increasing Work Coach support in Jobcentres for people with health conditions receiving Universal Credit or Employment Support Allowance;</li><li>Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres offering advice and expertise on how to help disabled people and people with health conditions into work;</li><li>the Work and Health Programme and Intensive Personalised Employment Support, providing tailored and personalised support for participants;</li><li>Access to Work grants towards extra costs of working beyond standard reasonable adjustments;</li><li>Disability Confident encouraging employers to think differently about disability and health, and to take positive action to address the issues employees face in the workplace;</li><li>the Information and Advice Service providing better integrated and tailored guidance on supporting and managing health and disability in the workplace; and</li><li>support in partnership between DWP and the health system, including Employment Advice in NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapy services, which combines psychological treatment and employment support for people with mental health conditions.</li></ul> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 08/12/2022 10:48:34 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4493 label Biography information for Richard Burgon

1546845

registered interest
date	30/11/2022
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	Long Covid
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 had discussions with (a) the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, (b) other Cabinet colleagues and (c) stakeholders on the potential merits of classifying long covid as an occupational disease.
tabling member constituency	Leeds East
tabling member printed	Richard Burgon
uin	99917
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2022 answer text <p>The Government is committed to providing a strong financial safety net for those in need. The benefit system is set up to consider the impact that a health condition has on an individual’s ability to work and carry-out day to day activities. In terms of support for those with health conditions, decisions are based on an assessment of an individual’s functional ability, not their diagnosed health condition(s). All health care practitioners who carry out assessments on behalf of the department have access to specific training and guidance modules on a wide range of clinical conditions, including long-COVID.</p><p> </p><p>DWP is responsible for the Industrial Injuries Scheme which compensates for injuries arising from an industrial accident or a prescribed disease contracted as a result of a person’s occupation. The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC) is an independent body of experts who advise the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions regarding the scheme. The Council considered the available scientific and epidemiological evidence around COVID-19 infection and has published a Command Paper entitled, ‘COVID-19 and occupational impacts’. See: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-occupational-impacts" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-and-occupational-impacts</a>.</p><p> </p><p>We will carefully consider the recommendations in the Command Paper and respond in due course.</p><p> </p><p>We will also continue to liaise with colleagues across Government and other stakeholders.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 08/12/2022 10:50:48 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4493 label Biography information for Richard Burgon