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1279167

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
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: Telephone Services
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 letter of 15 January 2021 from the Permanent Secretary to the Work and Pensions Committee, how her Department defines the acceptable service level for its telephone lines for (a) attendance allowance, (b) the Child Maintenance Service, (c) personal independence payment and (d) state pension; and in each month from August 2020 to December 2020 what service level was provided on each of those lines.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	141388
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/02/2021 answer text <p>An acceptable level of service for all of the department’s telephony lines is defined as 80% of calls answered (a common industry standard). This service level indicates that customers are being quickly connected to team members and getting their problems resolved in a timely manner.</p><p> </p><p>A reduced service may be necessary for a period where the balancing of resource (as experienced during this Pandemic) are of high priority within a particular business area.</p><p> </p><p>Table below shows performance for Attendance Allowance (AA), Child Maintenance Service (CMS), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and State Pension (SP) telephony lines for the period August 2020 to December 2020.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>% Calls Answered (PCA)</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Aug-20</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Sep-20</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Oct-20</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Nov-20</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Dec-20</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>AA</strong></p></td><td><p>61.10%</p></td><td><p>60.20%</p></td><td><p>64.40%</p></td><td><p>62.00%</p></td><td><p>64.00%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>CMS</strong></p></td><td><p>78.90%</p></td><td><p>75.60%</p></td><td><p>74.80%</p></td><td><p>74.30%</p></td><td><p>68.40%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>PIP</strong></p></td><td><p>70.60%</p></td><td><p>70.60%</p></td><td><p>63.30%</p></td><td><p>69.60%</p></td><td><p>69.20%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>SP</strong></p></td><td><p>60.60%</p></td><td><p>57.90%</p></td><td><p>52.10%</p></td><td><p>55.20%</p></td><td><p>60.30%</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 02/02/2021 16:24:42 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman previous answer version 77399 answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1279170

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
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	Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support her Department is providing for claimants of (a) personal independence payment, (b) employment support allowance and (c) disablement pension where the health assessors find that a face-to-face interview is required but cannot be completed under covid-19 restrictions.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	141531
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2021 answer text <p>The safety of our claimants and staff is our key priority. As a result, all face to face assessments for sickness and disability benefits have remained suspended since March 2020. Throughout the pandemic, for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)/Universal Credit (UC) we have continued to assess people on paper evidence where we can as normal. We have also introduced telephone assessments and are working to increase the number of these assessments in order that we can make the right decision for as many people as possible, while keeping people safe.</p><p> </p><p>Where it is not possible to carry out a PIP telephone assessment we are making a decision based on all the evidence available to ensure any payment is not delayed. For ESA/UC, claimants will remain on their current award until we are able to gather the evidence needed for a recommendation to be made (or until contributory ESA ends)); any additional amounts the claimant may qualify for after their assessment will be backdated to ensure no long-term loss. Where an individual’s contributory ESA ends they may be able to claim Universal Credit, depending on their personal circumstances if they require further financial support.</p><p> </p><p>The question refers to ‘disablement pension’; we have understood that to refer to the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB). Following a successful trial, we have now begun paper based assessments in IIDB for certain prescribed diseases. To protect our most vulnerable claimants with the most serious health conditions we are continuing to process IIDB claims for people with terminal illnesses, and those for Fast Track prescribed diseases as they can be assessed without the need for a face to face assessment. Once face-to-face assessments resume, awards will be backdated to the date of application to ensure claimants do not lose out on funds they are entitled to.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 27/01/2021 13:18:46 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1279171

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
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	Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of claims for (a) personal independence payment, (b) employment support allowance and (c) disablement pension which are pending due to a face-to-face health and disability assessment in (i) Lewisham Deptford, (ii) London and (iii) the UK which cannot be completed under covid-19 restrictions.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	141532
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2021 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-01-21/141531" target="_blank">141531</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes Personal Independence Payment assessment data online which can be accessed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-independence-payment-statistics?_sm_byp=iVVWb5570W4jkbMj#content" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-independence-payment-statistics?_sm_byp=iVVWb5570W4jkbMj#content</a></p><p> </p><p>The PIP clearance times are available to October 2020 and can be focused down to region level. Any further geographical breakdowns are not available and to provide them would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes Employment Support Allowance (ESA) Work Capability Assessment (WCA) data online which can be accessed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-january-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-january-2021</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The ESA clearance times are available to June 2020 at a national level only. The clearance times are only currently available to March 2020, but can be focused down to region and local authority level. Any further geographical breakdowns are not available and to provide them would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The question enquires into ‘disablement pension’, we have understood that to refer to the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) which this Department administers<strong>. </strong>The Department publishes quarterly statistics on claims and assessments under IIDB scheme in Great Britain here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit-quarterly-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit-quarterly-statistics</a></p><p> </p><p>The latest claims information is to March 2020, with the lowest geographical level available of Region. Statistics to June 2020 will be published on 23 February 2021</p><p> </p><p>Further geographical breakdowns and average clearance times are not readily available and to provide them would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 141533 question first answered 29/01/2021 15:09:43 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1279172

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
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	Work Capability Assessment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average waiting time from submission to payment of claims was in each of the last 12 months for (a) personal independence payment, (b) employment support allowance and (c) disablement pension in (i) Lewisham Deptford, (ii) London and (iii) the UK where a face-to-face health and disability assessment is required.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	141533
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2021 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-01-21/141531" target="_blank">141531</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes Personal Independence Payment assessment data online which can be accessed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-independence-payment-statistics?_sm_byp=iVVWb5570W4jkbMj#content" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-independence-payment-statistics?_sm_byp=iVVWb5570W4jkbMj#content</a></p><p> </p><p>The PIP clearance times are available to October 2020 and can be focused down to region level. Any further geographical breakdowns are not available and to provide them would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes Employment Support Allowance (ESA) Work Capability Assessment (WCA) data online which can be accessed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-january-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-january-2021</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The ESA clearance times are available to June 2020 at a national level only. The clearance times are only currently available to March 2020, but can be focused down to region and local authority level. Any further geographical breakdowns are not available and to provide them would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The question enquires into ‘disablement pension’, we have understood that to refer to the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) which this Department administers<strong>. </strong>The Department publishes quarterly statistics on claims and assessments under IIDB scheme in Great Britain here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit-quarterly-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit-quarterly-statistics</a></p><p> </p><p>The latest claims information is to March 2020, with the lowest geographical level available of Region. Statistics to June 2020 will be published on 23 February 2021</p><p> </p><p>Further geographical breakdowns and average clearance times are not readily available and to provide them would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 141532 question first answered 29/01/2021 15:09:43 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1279173

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
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	Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance has been given to health assessors carrying out health and disability assessments for new claims for (a) personal independence payment, (b) employment support allowance and (c) disablement pension submitted during covid-19 national lockdown.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	141534
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2021 answer text <p>Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Health Professionals continue to deliver PIP assessments in accordance with the PIP Assessment Guide published on GOV.UK. The link to which I have included below:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers</a></p><p> </p><p>Employment Support Allowance (ESA) Healthcare Professionals, continue to deliver ESA Work Capability Assessments (WCA) in accordance with the WCA Handbook published on GOV.UK. The link to which I have included below:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-capability-assessment-handbook-for-healthcare-professionals" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-capability-assessment-handbook-for-healthcare-professionals</a></p><p> </p><p>Our Assessment Providers, Independent Assessment Services (IAS), Capita and Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA) have supported their Health Professionals to carry out health and disability assessments throughout all COVID-19 lockdowns. Following the suspension of face to face assessments to ensure the safety of claimants, companions and staff, Health Professionals have been given additional training and guidance on conducting telephone assessments, which were introduced in PIP and ESA in response to COVID-19.</p><p> </p><p>I have interpreted Disablement Pension to mean Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB). The suspension of face to face assessments for IIDB means the majority of new claims are not being assessed at present. We continue to test new ways to carry out IIDB assessments and have now begun conducting paper based assessments for certain prescribed diseases.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 27/01/2021 13:54:51 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1279182

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
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	Kickstart Scheme
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 successful applications to the Kickstart Scheme were from (a) companies applying individually for over 30 applicants and (b) companies applying for less than 30 applicants through a Gateway scheme; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Hemel Hempstead
tabling member printed	Sir Mike Penning
uin	141414
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2021 answer text <p>The Kickstart scheme has seen high interest from applicants seeking to offer young people job placements. As such, the numbers of applications are fast-moving. As of 21/01/2021 there have been over 6,500 applications for funding from the Department for Work and Pensions’ Kickstart Scheme, some 6,000 of these having had final decisions made with over 2,000 of them being approved.</p><p> </p><p>(a) Of the 2,000, there have been around 500 approved applications from employers applying directly with 30 or more jobs, representing 25% of all approved applications so far.</p><p> </p><p>(b) Of the 2,000, there have been over 1,500 approved applications from prospective gateway organisations, representing 75% of all approved applications so far.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 03/02/2021 17:52:41 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies previous answer version 77398 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning

1279183

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
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	Kickstart Scheme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the maximum time is for employers to start employing young people on the Kickstart Scheme from the date the employer made the application to the scheme for (a) companies applying individually for over 30 applicants and (b) companies applying for less than 30 applicants through a Gateway scheme; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Hemel Hempstead
tabling member printed	Sir Mike Penning
uin	141415
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2021 answer text When applying for funding from the Department for Work and Pensions’ Kickstart Scheme an employer can choose to set the start date for their job placements at any point within the life time of the scheme, which is currently set to run until December 2021, with final job placements running until the summer of 2022. answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 26/01/2021 18:05:39 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning

1279196

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
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
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 support people on legacy benefits.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	141546
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2021 answer text <p>In April 2020, legacy benefits were increased by £600m (1.7%). This Government will ensure that benefits retain their value by guaranteeing that for a consecutive year, benefits will increase by further £100m (0.5%) from April, in line with CPI, as part of the Government’s annual up-rating exercise.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, last year, to support those on low incomes through the outbreak, we introduced a package of temporary welfare measures.</p><p> </p><p>For example; we increased the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants, so they now cover the lowest 30% of local rents. This increase, costing almost £1 billion, will mean 1.5 million households see an increase, on average, of £600 in 2020/21. We also increased the additional earnings disregard in Housing Benefit to ensure increases in the maximum rate of the basic element of Working Tax Credit did not impact on a claimant’s Housing Benefit award.</p><p> </p><p>We also legislated to allow access to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) from day one of a claim for Covid-19 related cases and we have made it easier to access ESA by launching a portal for new style ESA online claims.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants on legacy benefits can make a claim for Universal Credit if they believe that they will be better off. Those in receipt of the Severe Disability Premium will be able to make a new claim to Universal Credit from January 2021.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 28/01/2021 15:45:46 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1279197

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
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: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made on the adequacy of benefit rates for disabled people on legacy benefits.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	141547
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2021 answer text <p>We will spend over £55 billion this year (2020/21) on benefits to support people with health conditions and disabilities. This will increase by £1.6 billion to £57 billion in 2021/22.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 27/01/2021 13:30:59 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1279198

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of financial support available to people on legacy benefits.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	141548
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2021 answer text <p>In April 2020, legacy benefits were increased £600m (1.7%). This Government will ensure that benefits retain their value by guaranteeing that for a consecutive year, benefits will increase by a further £100m (0.5%) from April, in line with CPI, as part of the Government’s annual up-rating exercise.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants on legacy benefits can make a claim for Universal Credit if they believe that they will be better off. Those in receipt of the Severe Disability Premium will be able to make a new claim to Universal Credit from January 2021.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 28/01/2021 15:52:49 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes