Show Search Form

Search Results

registered interest	true false
date	exactly: or between: and
answering body
answering dept id
answering dept short name
answering dept sort name
hansard heading
house id
legislature	pref label
question text
tabling member constituency
tabling member printed
uin
answer	is ministerial correction true false date of answer exactly: or between: and answer text answering member constituency answering member printed question first answered answering member label
tabling member	label

Search

1121747

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
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: Self-employed
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason her Department classes the owners of small businesses as self-employed under universal credit while HMRC classes them as employed.
tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
uin	245845
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>We look at a number of factors to establish whether someone is gainfully self-employed</p><p> </p><p>A claimant is considered to be in gainful self-employment where all of the following apply:</p><ul><li>the claimant is carrying on a trade, profession or vocation as their main employment</li><li>their earnings from that trade, profession or vocation are self-employed earnings</li><li>the trade, profession or vocation is organised, developed, regular and carried out in expectation of profit</li></ul><p>If any of these are not satisfied then the claimant is not considered gainfully self-employed.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 25/04/2019 16:52:03 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1121750

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
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 the proportion is of universal credit claimants who receive an advance payment; what the average value of the advance payment is; and what percentage of claimants have received 100 per cent of the value of their first universal credit payment in the most recent month for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
tabling member printed	Neil Gray
uin	245810
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2019 answer text <p>Around 60 per cent of new claims take up an advance. Subject to some fluctuation, this rate of advance take-up has been broadly consistent over the last 12 months. This shows that claimants are being made aware of advances and are using it where they need this help.</p><p>The average advance amount for new claims is around £400.</p><p>Our latest published data shows that consistently around 85% of new claimants are being paid in full and on time. This can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics</a>. In many cases where full payment is not made on time, it is due to unresolved issues such as: claimants not accepting their Claimant Commitment or passing identity checks, or having outstanding verification issues, such as housing costs and self-employed earnings. In order to support claimants to claim, we have taken steps to improve verification processes. For example, we have listened to feedback and built processes into the system to make it easier and quicker for people to verify their housing costs, for example through the landlord portal.</p><p /> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 30/04/2019 10:52:25 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1121768

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has plans to change her Department’s policy on consent requirements for authorised representatives to act on behalf of claimants of universal credit.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	245555
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>We have had a number of workshops with stakeholders during which consent has been discussed, and we plan to do further work on explicit consent. This activity will include working with claimants and their representatives to ensure the process works effectively for vulnerable claimants to access the service.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 25/04/2019 10:32:29 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1121931

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
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, if she will take steps to simplify the process of claiming pension credit.
tabling member constituency	Hendon
tabling member printed	Dr Matthew Offord
uin	245757
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2019 answer text <p>The Government is committed to ensuring that older people receive the support they are entitled to and the DWP targets activity on engaging with people who may be eligible to benefits at pivotal stages, such as when they claim State Pension or report a change in their circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>The DWP uses a wide range of channels to communicate information about benefits to potential customers including information on <a href="https://gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://gov.uk/</a>, in leaflets and by telephone. People wishing to claim Pension Credit can do so by calling 0800 99 1234, which removes the need for claimants to complete lengthy application forms. However, paper forms are also available for those who prefer. The DWP is required by law to ask a number of questions in order to establish eligibility and ensure accurate assessment and subsequent award.</p><p> </p><p>DWP staff in Pension Centres and Jobcentres including visiting officers are able to provide help and advice about entitlement to benefits, as are staff in Local Authorities who administer Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>One of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholder working in the community and we have developed the Pension Credit toolkit, as an on-line tool for agencies and welfare rights organisations to use in order to encourage Pension Credit take-up. It can be found at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a></p><p> </p><p>The toolkit contains resources for anyone working with pensioners and includes guides to Pension Credit. It also contains publicity material and guidance designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit and help organisations support someone applying for Pension Credit as well as ideas for encouraging take-up. The toolkit also provides links to information about disability and carers benefits.</p><p> </p><p>Most recently we have provided to relevant organisations a fact sheet about Pension Credit and forthcoming changes for couples to ensure that accurate information is available in the places where people are most likely to seek information.</p><p> </p><p>The majority of people of pension age in receipt of a State Pension or another social security benefit receive their annual winter fuel payment automatically without the need to make a claim. There are no plans to change the existing process of claims to Pension Credit.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 29/04/2019 13:54:46 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4006 label Biography information for Dr Matthew Offord

1121933

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
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 and Support Allowance
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 8 April 2019 to Question 239928 on Employment and Support Allowance, when she plans to complete her update of the ESA65B letter.
tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
uin	245846
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>I refer the right honourable member to Parliamentary Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&amp;max=20&amp;questiontype=AllQuestions&amp;house=commons%2clords&amp;uin=242946" target="_blank">242946</a> answered on 15<sup>th</sup> April 2019.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 25/04/2019 12:51:18 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1121934

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
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 and Support Allowance
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 8 April 2019 to Question 239928 on Employment and Support Allowance, which medical organisations she is consulting to advise on the updating of the ESA65B letter.
tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
uin	245847
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>The Department is consulting the British Medical Association and the Royal College of General Practitioners on the revised wording of the ESA65B letter.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 25/04/2019 12:35:23 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1121962

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
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	Access to Work Programme
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if it remains the Government’s ambition to provide access to work support to over 60,000 people per year by 2020 as set out in the Work, Health and Disability Green Paper published in November 2017.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	245556
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>The ‘60,000 people per year’ ambition was proposed in the ‘Work, health and disability green paper: improving lives’ consultation document, which was published in October 2016, but it was not repeated in the Government’s response ‘Improving Lives: The Future of Work, Health and Disability’, published 30 November 2017.</p><p> </p><p>The figure of ‘60,000 people per year’ was developed using data from the old Access to Work statistics series. These were withdrawn and replaced by the new experimental Access to Work Statistics, first published on 10 October 2017 and available here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/access-to-work-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/access-to-work-statistics</a></p><p> </p><p>We explained the reasons for the changes to our methodology for calculating Access to Work statistics in the Statistical Notice that we published on 12 September 2017: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/643401/statistical-notice-access-to-work-statistics.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/643401/statistical-notice-access-to-work-statistics.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>We are committed to improving Access to Work’s reach, as well as the support it offers. In 2017/18 expenditure rose to £110.8 million, a 4% increase in real terms on 2016/17, and support was provided to nearly 34,000 disabled people, an increase of 13% on 16/17. Record numbers of people with learning disabilities (up 22%) and mental health conditions (up 34%) were supported by the scheme. We have also expanded the eligibility criteria for the scheme to include a broader range of customers, such as people who have a drug and alcohol addiction and are in a treatment programme.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 25/04/2019 12:44:32 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1121964

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
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	Pensions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to publish the next White Paper on pensions; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
tabling member printed	Alan Brown
uin	245886
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2019 answer text <p>On the 19 March 2018, the Department published a White Paper on ‘Protecting Defined Benefit Pension Schemes’ which can be viewed here:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protecting-defined-benefit-pension-schemes" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/protecting-defined-benefit-pension-schemes</a></p><p> </p><p>The Department has no plans to publish a further Pensions White Paper.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 29/04/2019 14:46:34 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1121966

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
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 and Support Allowance
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 16 May 2018 to Question 142518 on Employment and Support Allowance, whether any subsequent changes have been made to the ESA65B letter to inform doctors that they should continue to provide fit notes for claimants if they are appealing a decision or their condition worsens.
tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
tabling member printed	Alan Brown
uin	245887
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2019 answer text <p>I refer the right honourable member to Parliamentary Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-questions-answers/?page=1&amp;max=20&amp;questiontype=AllQuestions&amp;house=commons%2clords&amp;uin=239928" target="_blank">239928</a> answered on 8<sup>th</sup> April 2019.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 29/04/2019 13:26:00 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1121977

registered interest
date	18/04/2019
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, whether GP’s are required when recommending a claimant has home assessment for the purpose of a benefit claim to follow her Department‘s required and accepted terminology; and what guidance her Department has issued to GPs on statements her Department accepts in agreeing to grant a home assessment.
tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
uin	245848
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/04/2019 answer text <p>DWP has not issued any guidance to GPs on the subject of providing letters to support requests for home visits from assessment providers for their patients.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 25/04/2019 14:46:12 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows