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1660148

registered interest
date	12/09/2023
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	Young People: Northern Ireland
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the (a) Department for Communities and (b) Department of Education in Northern Ireland on (i) educational and (ii) work opportunities for young people aged 18-24 in Northern Ireland.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	199104
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/09/2023 answer text <p>Education and employment support are transferred matters in Northern Ireland, and educational opportunities in England are a matter for the Secretary of State for Education. My department is in frequent discussion with the Department for Communities on a number of matters, but these have not specifically covered work opportunities for young people aged 18-24 in Northern Ireland.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 18/09/2023 14:36:34 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1673906

registered interest
date	29/11/2023
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: Parkinson's Disease
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the role of informal observations made by PIP assessors in mandatory reconsiderations for PIP where the claimant has a diagnosis of Parkinson’s.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	4431
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2023 answer text <p>Entitlement to PIP is assessed based on the needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability, not the health condition or disability itself. The PIP Assessment Guide, used by health professionals who conduct PIP assessments, sets out how informal observations of functional limitations should be used.</p><p> </p><p>Informal observations can be a way to reveal abilities and limitations not mentioned in the claimant questionnaire, supporting evidence, or history taking during the consultation. However, they are only part of the suite of evidence considered by health professionals during an assessment. They must also consider the invisible nature of some symptoms, such as fatigue and pain which may be less easy to identify through observation.</p><p> </p><p>Informal observations included in a health professional’s advice to DWP are not viewed in isolation; they are considered alongside all other available evidence to determine PIP entitlement.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 05/12/2023 11:59:04 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1565492

registered interest
date	10/01/2023
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	Vacancies
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to help fill gaps in the UK employment market.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	120039
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2023 answer text <p>We have comprehensive support in place to help DWP claimants to find, progress and stay in work, with additional support for groups we know are more likely to be inactive, such as those aged 50+ and people with a disability.</p><p> </p><p>We are looking to identify and understand the barriers preventing people from joining the workforce and/or resulting in people leaving the workforce early. Some of these people will not be able to work and it is right that government continues to support them; but there will be others who with the right engagement can be supported into the labour market.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 18/01/2023 13:48:30 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1713410

registered interest
date	24/04/2024
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: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he is taking steps to ensure that single claimants with long-term disabilities receive the same benefits under Universal Credit as under the legacy system.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	23483
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/05/2024 answer text <p>Universal Credit provides more generous support for disabled people than it does for people in similar circumstances who are not disabled.</p><p> </p><p>Based on the outcome of a work capability assessment, it may be decided that a claimant has limited capability for work and work-related activity, and may be awarded an additional amount of benefit, currently £416.19 per calendar month from (2024/25 rates).</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, where it is decided that claimants have limited capability for work or limited capability for work and work-related activity, they are eligible for a work allowance.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has given a commitment that no eligible claimants who are invited to move to Universal Credit (UC), from legacy benefits, by the Department for Work and Pensions, and whose circumstances remain the same, will have a lower entitlement to UC than they had entitlement to their legacy benefits at the point of moving. Where necessary, eligible claimants will be awarded Transitional Protection (TP) in the form of a Transitional Element (TE) to ensure this commitment is met.</p><p> </p><p>Severe disability premium (SDP) transitional payments are available to claimants who became entitled to Universal Credit (UC) within a month of being entitled to severe disability premium (SDP) within a legacy benefit. In a case where the legacy benefit had terminated within that month the claimant must have continued to satisfy the eligibility conditions for SDP up to and including the first day of their UC award. The relevant legacy benefits are:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Income Support.</li><li>Jobseeker’s Allowance (income based).</li><li>Employment and Support Allowance (income related); or</li><li>Housing Benefit</li></ul><p> </p><p>New regulations came into force on 14<sup>th</sup> February 2024 and provide newly eligible claimants additional transitional protection where they are entitled to the transitional SDP element.</p><p>The claimants must also have been previously entitled to other disability premia in the month preceding their claim to UC, and continue to satisfy the eligibility conditions up to and including the first day of their UC award, to one or more of the following:</p><ul><li>Enhanced disability premium</li><li>Disability premium</li><li>disabled child premium or the disabled child element (in child tax credits) -and are now receiving the lower rate disabled child addition in Universal Credit.</li></ul> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 02/05/2024 16:48:38 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1352765

registered interest
date	06/09/2021
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	Universal Credit
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 it remains his Department's policy not to extend the universal credit uplift of £20 beyond autumn 2021.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	43515
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2021 answer text <p>The Chancellor announced a temporary six-month extension to the £20 per week uplift at the Budget on 3 March to support households affected by the economic shock of Covid-19. Universal Credit has provided a vital safety net for six million people during the pandemic, and the temporary uplift was part of a COVID support package worth a total of £407 billion in 2020-21 and 2021-22.</p><p> </p><p>There have been significant positive developments in the public health situation since the uplift was first introduced with the success of the vaccine rollout. Now the economy is reopening and as we continue to progress with our recovery our focus is on helping people back into work.</p><p> </p><p>Through our Plan for Jobs, we are targeting tailored support schemes of people of all ages to help them prepare for, get into and progress in work. These include: Kickstart, delivering tens of thousands of six-month work placements for UC claimants aged 16-24 at risk of unemployment; we have also recruited an additional 13,500 work coaches to provide more intensive support to find a job; and introduced Restart which provides 12 months’ intensive employment support to UC claimants who are unemployed for a year. Our Plan for Jobs interventions will support more than two million people.</p><p> </p><p /> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 42129 question first answered 14/09/2021 17:00:03 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1605419

registered interest
date	20/03/2023
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	Training: Older People
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 take steps with his Cabinet colleagues to provide free courses to workers over 50 who feel they would benefit from training to (a) build their confidence and (b) ensure their skills are suited to the modern workplace.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	169295
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2023 answer text <p>The UK Government already offer a wide range of skills focused programmes such as Sector-based Work Academies, Skills Bootcamps and Apprenticeships. As part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee, Free Courses for Jobs supports people of all ages find work or a new career.</p><p> </p><p>At budget, the Chancellor announced returnerships, which is a new offer targeted at the over 50s, which will bring together the government’s existing skills programmes, focusing on flexibility and previous experience to reduce training length.</p><p> </p><p>Work Coaches and other Jobcentre Plus staff are equipped with knowledge about local labour markets and training opportunities, to support older people looking to move back into employment, and support such as Midlife MoT’s and mentoring circles aim to build older customers confidence in their skills and ability to seek work.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 28/03/2023 11:49:48 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1701264

registered interest
date	16/04/2024
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: Women
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the implications for his Department’s policies of the report entitled Women’s State Pension age: our findings on injustice and associated issues published by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman on 21 March 2024, HC 638.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	21990
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/04/2024 answer text <p>In laying the report before Parliament at the end of March, the Ombudsman has brought matters to the attention of this House, and a further update to the House will be provided once the report's findings have been fully considered.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 23/04/2024 15:00:35 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1684735

registered interest
date	24/01/2024
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: Women
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support women who are physically unable to work to state pension age.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	11330
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/01/2024 answer text <p>We know that older people are more likely to develop a disability or health condition that impacts on their ability to work, and the Department has initiatives to support them as part of the core Jobcentre Plus offer, as well as through specialist provision.</p><p> </p><p>This Government is committed to providing a financial safety net for those who need it, including when they near or reach retirement. Support is available through the welfare system to those who are unable to work, are on a low income or have additional costs as a consequence of a long-term health condition or disability but are not eligible to pensioner benefits because of their age. Good work is generally good for health. Therefore, where possible and appropriate, the Government supports disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work through an ambitious programme of initiatives.</p><p> </p><p>These include: the Work and Health Programme; Access to Work grants; Disability Confident; a digital information service for employers; Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres; Employment Advice in NHS Talking Therapies and Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care. Building on existing provision and the £2 billion investment announced at the Spring Budget, we announced a new package of support in Autumn Statement 2023 including to explore new ways of providing individuals receiving a fit note with timely access to support; and establish an expert group to advice on a voluntary national baseline for Occupational Health provision. Access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time, is key. This can support people to find work they can do, and the appropriate adjustments to allow them to work successfully with their disability or health condition.</p><p> </p><p>The principle of having a State Pension age that is the same for everybody is fundamental in the UK. Unlike a personal or workplace pension, which can potentially be drawn earlier, it has always been the case that nobody can claim their State Pension early, before they reach their State Pension age. We have no current plans to change this principle.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 30/01/2024 17:36:44 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1651540

registered interest
date	10/07/2023
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: Underpayments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to tackle under-payment errors in state pensions.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	193108
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2023 answer text <p>Our priority is to ensure everyone receives the financial support to which they are entitled. Where errors do occur, we are committed to fixing them as quickly as possible.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Work and Pensions became aware of issues with State Pension underpayments in 2020 and took immediate action to investigate the extent of the problem, which dates back many years across successive Governments. The DWP formally commenced a Legal Entitlements and Administrative Practices (LEAP) exercise on 11 January 2021.</p><p>Over 1,300 staff have been recruited or redeployed to the ongoing State Pension underpayment LEAP exercise. Delivery is backloaded and case reviews have significantly increased since November 2022. The latest data shows we have reviewed an average of over 30,000 cases per month between November 2022 and March 2023, compared to an average of 5,000 per month over the first 22 months of the exercise.</p><p>Based on our current trajectory, the Department expects to complete the exercise for Category BL and Category D cases by the end of 2023. For missed conversion cases, the exercise could run through to late 2024.</p><p>Other State Pension underpayment errors were identified through DWP’s fraud and error sampling which related to historic non-recording of Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) on a claimant’s National Insurance record.</p><p> </p><p>In September, HMRC will begin contacting people potentially affected by missing HRP. This will be supported by a communications campaign to increase public awareness and encourage people to see if they are affected. DWP will then revise the State Pension awards of people who may have been affected. We will also shortly be launching a new online tool to help people check whether they need to claim.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott question first answered 21/07/2023 08:39:38 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon

1644028

registered interest
date	13/06/2023
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: Poverty
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 prevent people falling into poverty as a result of increases in the state pension age.
tabling member constituency	Strangford
tabling member printed	Jim Shannon
uin	189192
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/06/2023 answer text <p>This government believes that the most effective and sustainable way to tackle poverty is by supporting people to move into and to progress in work wherever possible, through measures such as the Mid-Life MOT or upskilling programmes such as the ‘Returnerships’ bootcamps.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, we remain committed to the principle of giving 10 years of notice before there are any changes to the state pension age and a variety of factors will be considered as part of the next review. The next review will be supported by the latest evidence, including life expectancy projections, updated with 2021 Census data, and the economic position and take place within 2 years of the next Parliament.</p> answering member constituency Sevenoaks answering member printed Laura Trott question first answered 21/06/2023 16:49:19 answering member 4780 label Biography information for Laura Trott
tabling member	4131 label Biography information for Jim Shannon