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1006889

registered interest
date	14/11/2018
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	Jobseeker's Allowance
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what targets her Department has for moving claimants onto jobseeker's allowance from other allowances and benefits.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
uin	191393
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>There are no Departmental targets for moving people onto Jobseeker’s Allowance from other allowances and benefits<strong>. </strong>Every benefit claim is considered on its merits, and decisions are made based on the available evidence and the legislation according to which such decisions are made.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 19/11/2018 11:53:12 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood

1006898

registered interest
date	14/11/2018
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: Fraud
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 is taking to tackle benefit fraud.
tabling member constituency	Upper Bann
tabling member printed	David Simpson
uin	191358
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/11/2018 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is committed to reducing benefit fraud across all benefits administered by or on behalf DWP.</p><p> </p><p>DWP’s key focus is on preventing potential benefit fraud before it occurs. Internal and external data matches are increasingly helping inform benefit payments and alerting staff to check for any undeclared changes in people’s circumstances.</p><p>The Department’s Risk and Intelligence Service uses data and analytics to identify fraud and uses that information to direct investigations. The Department is investing significantly in this area, which will enhance its future risk assessment capability.</p><p>DWP takes effective action against people who commit benefit fraud. This includes the use of tough financial penalties referred to as administrative penalties and where appropriate prosecution. DWP convicted nearly 5,000 people of benefit fraud last year alone, as well as issuing over 5,500 Administrative Penalties.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 20/11/2018 13:58:37 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	1597 label Biography information for David Simpson

1007068

registered interest
date	14/11/2018
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: Disability
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 Improving lives: the future of work, health and disability white paper, published on 30 November 2017, Cm. 9526, what progress has been made on researching and identifying means of providing employers with information and support on disability employment.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	191253
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>We announced in Improving Lives that we would &quot;improve advice and support both at a national and local level, making sure it works for employers of all sizes, in particular for SMEs, and for their employees&quot;. An important part of this is our Disability Confident scheme which offers information and advice about employing disabled people and encourages employers to take leading roles in driving change. Over 9,500 employers are currently signed up to Disability Confident and that number grows weekly.</p><p> </p><p>We’re committed to continuously improving the support provided through Disability Confident. DWP commissioned Ipsos MORI to conduct research with Disability Confident employers to understand the effect that signing up to the Disability Confident scheme has had on their recruitment and retention attitudes and practices with regards to disabled people. In addition, the research study aimed to understand what motivates employers to sign up to the scheme and what support those employers need to promote the scheme both within and outside of their organisation.</p><p> </p><p>We published the results of this research on 13 November 2018. The majority of employers surveyed were satisfied with the Disability Confident scheme, and as a positive expression of this satisfaction, nine in ten said they would recommend the scheme. However, the survey revealed some areas which could help improve the experience of employers who have already signed up</p><p> </p><p>We have action in place to meet these requests including:</p><ul><li>working with JCP to develop products that they can use and share with employers to help them on their Disability Confident journeys.</li><li>providing Specialist Themed Events to provide in-depth learning on specific issues. Themes covered so far include mental health, workplace adjustments, recruitment processes, and supporting staff with terminal illnesses.</li><li>working more closely with the third sector to ensure they understand how Disability Confident works and can promote it amongst the disabled people they work with.</li><li>Providing a new “Find a job service” which provides a free facility for employers to post jobs and jobseekers to apply for those jobs. Jobseekers are now able to search for jobs displaying the Disability Confident badge, with over 8,000 Disability Confident vacancies currently listed on the site.</li><li>providing new communications channels to ensure we can easily reach all Disability Confident employers with information, advice and case studies.</li></ul><p> </p><p>The Disability Confident scheme has always been intended to be only part of the process of getting more disabled people into work. The Access to Work scheme can also provide support towards the costs of workplace adjustments and we have also conducted research into how that scheme operates and can be improved. We are integrating Access to Work communications into Disability Confident promotions so employers can easily understand how they can receive support with the costs of making workplace adjustments.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 19/11/2018 16:15:12 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1007132

registered interest
date	14/11/2018
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: Multiple Sclerosis
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 people with multiple sclerosis in Newcastle upon Tyne North are no longer eligible for the higher rate of mobility support as a result of the transition from disability living allowance to personal independence payments (PIP) in each year since PIP was introduced.
tabling member constituency	Newcastle upon Tyne North
tabling member printed	Catherine McKinnell
uin	191414
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2018 answer text <p>The table below shows the number and percentage of DLA (Disability Living Allowance) higher mobility award claimants with Multiple Sclerosis in the Newcastle upon Tyne North constituency by year of reassessment to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and PIP mobility award level.</p><p> </p><p>Table 1: Number and percentage of DLA higher mobility award claimants with Multiple Sclerosis in the Newcastle upon Tyne North constituency by year of reassessment to PIP and PIP mobility award level.</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>Nil or Standard PIP Mobility</p></td><td><p>PIP Enhanced Mobility</p></td><td><p>Total</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td><td><p>#</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016</p></td><td><p>10 (50%)</p></td><td><p>10 (50%)</p></td><td><p>20</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017 (to October 31st)</p></td><td><p>10 (50%)</p></td><td><p>10 (50%)</p></td><td><p>20</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><ul><li>Data is based on primary disabling condition as recorded on the DLA computer system. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these statistics.</li><li>A reassessment claimant may have different main disabling conditions recorded on the DLA and PIP systems. Claimants who were recorded as terminally ill on the DLA system are not included in the above statistics.</li><li>Figures include reassessment outcomes for individuals who were aged between 16 and 64 on 8th April 2013, and include both PIP Normal Rules and Special Rules for the Terminally Ill claims.</li><li>A claimant’s DLA award of higher mobility rate is at the time of their PIP reassessment registration.</li><li>PIP award is prior to any mandatory reconsideration or Appeal action.</li><li>This is unpublished data. It should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision.</li><li>Data is taken from the PIP and DLA computer system’s management information.</li><li>Data is to 31<sup>st</sup> October 2017 and excludes DLA claimants who did not respond to their PIP invitation.</li><li>Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 and percentages have been rounded to the nearest 1%. “#” indicates a number greater than or equal to 1 but less than 5.</li><li>Figures are for Great Britain only.</li></ul> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 22/11/2018 14:34:46 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton previous answer version 85875 answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4125 label Biography information for Catherine McKinnell

1005997

registered interest
date	13/11/2018
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 representations she has received about the effect on vulnerable people and those with mental health conditions of joint claims for Universal Credit which are paid to one person in the family.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	190888
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2018 answer text <p>We recognise that the move to a single monthly household payment is a significant change and therefore for a minority of claimants, alternative payment arrangements can be provided to help them manage that change. These include: managed payment of the Universal Credit housing cost to landlords; making payments more frequently than monthly (e.g. twice monthly); and splitting the payment between partners within the household.</p><p> </p><p>Splitting payments between partners is normally considered to prevent hardship to a claimant and their family, for example if the Universal Credit claimant is not managing their financial affairs and cannot or will not budget for their own or their family’s basic day to day needs.</p><p> </p><p>We take seriously the need to support vulnerable claimants. Universal Credit provides enhanced personalised support for people by simplifying the benefits system. All claimants, including vulnerable claimants and those with mental health conditions, receive continuous tailored support managed through personal work coaches, who know each person’s case.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally we can offer Personal Budgeting Support which aims to prepare claimants for the financial changes Universal Credit brings. It provides transitional support to help them manage their monthly payments and prioritise essential bills, such as rent and utilities.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 21/11/2018 16:23:24 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1006022

registered interest
date	13/11/2018
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: Cancer
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 12 November 2018 to Question 187016 on personal Independence Payment: Cancer, if she will place in the Library the number of people with (a) leukaemia, (b) myeloma, (c) Hodgkin’s lymphoma and (d) non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that are in receipt of personal independence payment.
tabling member constituency	Scunthorpe
tabling member printed	Nic Dakin
uin	190872
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The department has no plans to place these statistics in the Library as they are updated and published quarterly and are readily available on Stat Xplore: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk</a>.</p><p>The next publication date is 11th December 2018.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 19/11/2018 16:49:35 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4056 label Biography information for Nic Dakin

1006040

registered interest
date	13/11/2018
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, how many health assessments were carried out on claimants of (a) personal independence payments and (b) employment support allowance in each of the last five years.
tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
uin	190915
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>The number of health assessments that were carried out for Personal Independence Payments claimants in each of the last five years are shown in the table below. The increase in PIP assessments reflects the growth in new claims following the introduction of PIP in 2013 and the of reassessment of DLA to more areas.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>Jun 2013 - March 2014</p></td><td><p>April 2014 - March 2015</p></td><td><p>April 2015 - March 2016</p></td><td><p>April 2016 - March 2017</p></td><td><p>April 2017 - March 2018</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>PIP Health assessment reports received</p></td><td><p>81,000</p></td><td><p>555,000</p></td><td><p>708,000</p></td><td><p>1,003,000</p></td><td><p>1,021,000</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Source: chargeable outputs trend summary report</p><p>(Figures rounded to nearest 1k)</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The number of health assessments that were carried out for Employment Support Allowance claimants in each of the last five years are shown in the table below.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>-</p></td><td><p>April 2013 - March 2014</p></td><td><p>April 2014 - March 2015</p></td><td><p>April 2015 - March 2016</p></td><td><p>April 2016 - March 2017</p></td><td><p>April 2017 - March 2018</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>ESA Health assessment reports received</p></td><td><p>638,000</p></td><td><p>685,000</p></td><td><p>742,000</p></td><td><p>913,000</p></td><td><p>913,000</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Source: Monthly Work Capability Summary MI report</p><p>(Figures rounded to nearest 1k)</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 19/11/2018 17:08:06 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1006059

registered interest
date	13/11/2018
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	Food Banks
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 plans to maintain a central record of the number of people who use foodbanks in the UK.
tabling member constituency	Hyndburn
tabling member printed	Graham P Jones
uin	190860
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>We have no current plans to develop official national statistics on food bank use. However, the Office for National Statistics is leading a project to improve statistics on household food insecurity by reviewing all existing official and non-official sources of data and looking at options to fill data gaps in partnership with government departments, including the Department for Work and Pensions.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 19/11/2018 16:20:30 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	3999 label Biography information for Graham P Jones

1006166

registered interest
date	13/11/2018
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 criteria the Department provides to its partners to assess non-physical disabilities for clients applying for personal independence payment and disability living allowance.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
uin	190862
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/11/2018 answer text <p>The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) process is designed to treat all claimants fairly and with respect. A core tenet of its design is the principle of equivalence between physical and non-physical conditions in order to accurately determine the level of support a person needs.</p><p>Health professionals carrying out the assessments have training in multiple and complex conditions such as autism, mental health conditions and learning disabilities.</p><p>In addition, the Assessment Providers have Mental Health Champions who are experienced professionals with direct and relevant work experience of helping patients with mental health conditions.</p><p>Detailed information of PIP assessment processes and how claimants with mental health conditions are assessed for PIP can be found in the PIP Assessment Guide:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers" target="_blank">Personal Independence Payment assessment guide for assessment providers - GOV.UK</a></p><p> </p><p>The proportion of PIP recipients with a mental health condition getting the top rates of support is over five times higher compared to Disability Living Allowance (DLA).</p><p> </p><p>Child DLA is a benefit for children under the age of 16 who, due to a disability or health condition, have mobility issues and/or require substantially more care, attention &amp; supervision than children their age normally would. Child DLA comprises a Care component and a Mobility component; either or both can be claimed, depending on the child’s overall needs and age.</p><p>Parents or guardians complete a claim form which requests detailed information about the child and the form is considered by a case manager alongside other evidence such as reports’ from the child’s General Practitioner (GP), consultant and/or school.</p><p>Case Managers have access to comprehensive medical guidance and advice from qualified Medical Advisers based at the Child DLA centre. In the vast majority of cases no face to face assessment is required.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 23/11/2018 10:03:07 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton previous answer version 85874 answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood

1006167

registered interest
date	13/11/2018
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 her Department undertakes to ensure the applicants for personal independence payment and disability living allowance are assessed by accredited healthcare professionals for their specific disability or impairment.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham South
tabling member printed	Lilian Greenwood
uin	190863
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/11/2018 answer text <p>PIP assessments focus on what impact a disability or impairment has on a claimant’s ability to carry out day to day tasks and activities. Therefore, DWP does not require Health Professionals to be specialists in specific conditions or impairments. They are expected to have a broad knowledge of different medical conditions and work with claimants to assess how these affect their daily life.</p><p> </p><p>Health Professionals carrying out PIP assessments have access to training such as evidence based protocols, e-learning modules or case studies as well as keeping knowledge up to date through Continuous Professional Development.</p><p> </p><p>All Health Professionals must have at least 2 years post full-registration experience.</p><p> </p><p>There is no requirement for applicants for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to undergo a face to face assessment with a healthcare professional.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 19/11/2018 17:08:00 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4029 label Biography information for Lilian Greenwood