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1045531

registered interest
date	21/01/2019
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, how many claimants of universal credit are classified as gainfully self-employed.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	210462
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2019 answer text <p>We plan to publish statistics on Universal Credit and self-employment, including claimant numbers, in Spring 2019. The Government’s commitment remains to helping self-employed claimants with viable businesses to thrive, while protecting public funds.</p><p> </p><p>We provide tailored support to our claimants who are in self-employment through our work coaches to help them to increase their productivity and earnings. Work coaches can also sign-post claimants to the extensive business support which is already funded by the Government.</p><p> </p><p>As we announced in the Autumn Budget 2018, we will be extending the 12-month start-up period where claimants are exempt from the Minimum Income Floor to all gainfully self-employed claimants who are new to Universal Credit. This start-up period will provide time for self-employed claimants to establish and grow their business, or to adjust to Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has also extended mentoring support from New Enterprise Allowance mentors to Universal Credit claimants with earnings below their Minimum Income Floor, to help them to develop a plan to grow their earnings.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 210463 question first answered 24/01/2019 13:43:47 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1045532

registered interest
date	21/01/2019
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, what progress her Department has made on ensuring that 50,000 claimants of universal credit are in gainful self-employment by Summer 2019.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	210463
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2019 answer text <p>We plan to publish statistics on Universal Credit and self-employment, including claimant numbers, in Spring 2019. The Government’s commitment remains to helping self-employed claimants with viable businesses to thrive, while protecting public funds.</p><p> </p><p>We provide tailored support to our claimants who are in self-employment through our work coaches to help them to increase their productivity and earnings. Work coaches can also sign-post claimants to the extensive business support which is already funded by the Government.</p><p> </p><p>As we announced in the Autumn Budget 2018, we will be extending the 12-month start-up period where claimants are exempt from the Minimum Income Floor to all gainfully self-employed claimants who are new to Universal Credit. This start-up period will provide time for self-employed claimants to establish and grow their business, or to adjust to Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has also extended mentoring support from New Enterprise Allowance mentors to Universal Credit claimants with earnings below their Minimum Income Floor, to help them to develop a plan to grow their earnings.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 210462 question first answered 24/01/2019 13:43:47 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1045533

registered interest
date	21/01/2019
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, if she will increase the number recording devices available for benefits assessments in Wirral.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	210464
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2019 answer text <p>Anyone who is required to attend a Work Capability Assessment can ask to have their face-to-face assessment audio recorded. The Centre for Health and Disability Assessments ensure that sufficient recording equipment is available at the assessment centre, including transferring additional equipment to sites as required.</p><p> </p><p>Every claimant for Personal Independence Payment who wishes to have their assessment recorded has the right to do so but they must provide the recording equipment. DWP has set conditions for such recordings to take place, which are listed in the PIP Assessment Guide and are contained within correspondence to claimants from Assessment Providers.</p><p> </p><p>DWP will continue to keep the recording of assessments policy under review.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 24/01/2019 16:46:28 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1045534

registered interest
date	21/01/2019
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, what recent assessment she has made of the effect of the availability of recording devices for benefits assessments on the (a) quality and (b) timeliness of those assessments.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	210465
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2019 answer text <p>Every person who is required to attend a Work Capability Assessment can ask to have their face-to-face assessment audio recorded. Where the request is made in advance the requirement will be met. Requests made on the day will be met where possible and the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments reviews the demand to ensure there is sufficient audio recording equipment. Personal Independence Payment claimants who wish to have their assessment recorded have the right to do so but they must provide the recording equipment.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s response to recommendation 4b of Paul Gray’s second independent review of the Personal Independence Payment assessment (<a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/668621/pip-assessment-second-independent-review-government-response.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/668621/pip-assessment-second-independent-review-government-response.pdf</a>) set out our assessment of a trial of audio recording assessments</p><p> </p><p>DWP also recently commenced a video recording pilot for claimants with Personal Independence Payment face-to-face assessments. The pilot enables us to test communications products and live testing of video recording, providing that claimants elect to participate. Findings from the pilot will inform views on rolling out video recording more widely, in order to promote greater trust and transparency.</p><p> </p><p>DWP will continue to keep the recording of assessments policy under review.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 24/01/2019 17:16:28 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1045545

registered interest
date	21/01/2019
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: EU Nationals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many non-UK EU citizens have been refused universal credit on the basis that they do not have a right to reside in each month since January 2017.
tabling member constituency	Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East
tabling member printed	Stuart C. McDonald
uin	210587
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/01/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p>Comprehensive guidance outlining eligibility for Universal Credit for EEA Nationals and the habitual residency test is available to all staff across the Jobcentre network. Universal Credit guidance is published in the House of Commons Library and the Department is committed to refreshing this at regular intervals.</p><p>Eligibility for income-related (means-tested) social security benefits depends on a person’s immigration status in the UK. Claimants must be exercising a legal right to reside and be habitually resident before they are eligible to claim income related benefit. This is assessed through the Habitual Residence Test (HRT). DWP does not automatically provide other Government departments with information regarding an individual’s benefit claim. The Immigration (European Economic Area) Regulations 2016 and immigration decisions are the responsibility of the Home Office.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 24/01/2019 14:00:51 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4393 label Biography information for Stuart C McDonald

1045612

registered interest
date	21/01/2019
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, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the universal credit payment system so that claimants paid on a four-weekly basis for part-time or casual work do not have their benefit payment substantially reduced as a result of receiving two work payments four weeks apart in one calendar month.
tabling member constituency	Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock
tabling member printed	Bill Grant
uin	210704
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit payments reflect, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period. Assessment periods allow for Universal Credit awards to be adjusted on a monthly basis, ensuring that if a claimant’s income falls, they do not have to wait several months for a rise in their Universal Credit award.</p><p> </p><p>Some claimants receive earnings from work multiple times within an assessment period if they are paid via four-weekly, fortnightly, or weekly patterns. This in turn may reduce, or in some cases, nil the Universal Credit award the claimant receives that month. We have produced guidance to help ensure claimants, staff and representatives are aware and it is available at the following link: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles</a></p><p> </p><p>Claimants can always discuss the implications of this with their case managers and work coaches and can be referred to Personal Budgeting Support to help them manage their budgeting.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is working with employers to ensure that they use the most appropriate payment practices and comply with RTI guidelines in order to minimise the incidence of erroneous or late reporting by employers, and HMRC have recently updated guidance to reiterate to employers the importance of reporting accurate dates and the impact on payment cycles.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 29/01/2019 17:10:43 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4605 label Biography information for Bill Grant

1043694

registered interest
date	18/01/2019
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 9 May 2018 to Question 142518 on employment support allowance, what guidance her Department has issued to GPs on the provision of medical notes to claimants of employment and support allowance that are appealing her Department's decision on their claim.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, West Derby
tabling member printed	Stephen Twigg
uin	210007
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2019 answer text <p>The guidance issued to GPs is published on the gov.uk website. The relevant information can be found on pages 8 and 9 of the following link:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/691502/the-benefits-system-a-short-guide-for-gps.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/691502/the-benefits-system-a-short-guide-for-gps.pdf</a></p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 23/01/2019 16:26:35 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	167 label Biography information for Stephen Twigg

1043714

registered interest
date	18/01/2019
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	Personal Independence Payment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her Department's target timetable is for applicants of personal independence payments to be notified of the decision on their application; and what (a) proportion and (b) number of applications met that target in each year for which information is available.
tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
uin	210050
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2019 answer text <p>The Department does not have targets for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) applications.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 23/01/2019 16:16:53 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1043721

registered interest
date	18/01/2019
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	Independent Case Examiner
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much money has been spent from the public purse on the running of the office of the Independent Case Examiner for each available year; and what her Department's plans are for the future funding on that office.
tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
uin	210055
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2019 answer text <p>Funding for the Independent Case Examiner’s Office is reviewed on an annual basis. The table below provides details of the budget allocated to the Office in the last four financial years.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Financial Year (April to March)</p></td><td><p>Amount</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>£2,563,702</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>£2,733,114</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>£2,534,005</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2018/19</p></td><td><p>£3,008,587</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 23/01/2019 14:58:53 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1043722

registered interest
date	18/01/2019
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	Independent Case Examiner
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the Independent Case Examiner's ability to process complaints in a timely manner.
tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
uin	210056
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/01/2019 answer text <p>The Independent Case Examiner (ICE) is appointed under contract to adjudicate on escalated complaints about DWP and its contracted service providers, in cases where the complainant has exhausted the relevant internal complaints process and remains dissatisfied. If a complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome of an ICE investigation, or the service provided by the Office (including processing times) they can ask their Member of Parliament to escalate their complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. The Permanent Secretary is apprised of the Ombudsman’s findings each year.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 23/01/2019 14:50:19 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows