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1196017

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
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, how many families have been newly affected by the two-child limit on universal credit as a result of making a new claim for that benefit since the beginning of the covid-19 lockdown.
tabling member constituency	Walthamstow
tabling member printed	Stella Creasy
uin	47267
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 20/05/2020 15:47:17 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4088 label Biography information for Stella Creasy

1196018

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
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 and Welfare Tax Credits
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 potential merits of temporarily suspending the two-child limit on the child element of universal credit and tax credit in recognition of the economic effect of the covid-19 outbreak on families with children.
tabling member constituency	Walthamstow
tabling member printed	Stella Creasy
uin	47268
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text <p>There are no plans to suspend the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 20/05/2020 16:43:49 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4088 label Biography information for Stella Creasy

1196027

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
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	Jobcentre Plus: Staff
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 Job Centre Plus staff were working (a) from home and (b) on site in (a) March, (b) April and (c) May 2020.
tabling member constituency	Feltham and Heston
tabling member printed	Seema Malhotra
uin	47297
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2020 answer text <p>The following figures cover all DWP staff, not just Jobcentre Plus and come with the following caveats.</p><p> </p><p>- Data started to be recorded from 23<sup>rd</sup> March, so the March value represents 23rd-31st March data only</p><p>- May data is up to and including 20<sup>th</sup> May</p><p>- Below figures <strong>exclude weekends and public holidays</strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Month</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Average of Total Users</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Average of Home Users</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Average of Pct from home</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar</p></td><td><p>52,281</p></td><td><p>12,708</p></td><td><p>24%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr</p></td><td><p>53,308</p></td><td><p>15,870</p></td><td><p>30%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May</p></td><td><p>57,387</p></td><td><p>22,596</p></td><td><p>39%</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 26/05/2020 17:06:25 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4253 label Biography information for Seema Malhotra

1196036

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
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: Mortgages
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 new universal credit claimants that would be unable to make mortgage interest payments if their mortgage payment holiday expires; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Warrington North
tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
uin	47470
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2020 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>No such assessment has been made.</p><p> </p><p>New claimants to Universal Credit have to serve a nine month qualifying period before they are entitled to help with their mortgage interest. The lending industry is aware of and understands these arrangements. If, during this time, individuals are unable to meet their payments, we would encourage them to discuss options with their lenders.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 26/05/2020 17:48:45 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1196072

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
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: Coronavirus
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 removing the minimum five week wait before universal credit claimants receive their first payment for the duration of the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	47360
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text <p>The Universal Credit Assessment period and payment structure are fundamental parts of the Universal Credit design. The assessment period runs for a full calendar month from the date of entitlement, and the subsequent Universal Credit pay date will be within seven calendar days after the end of the initial assessment period. It is not possible to award a Universal Credit payment as soon as a claim is made, as the assessment period must run its course before the award of Universal Credit can be calculated. This monthly calculation has been hard-wired throughout the system, and cannot now be changed without significant re-build. At present, all resources are rightly focused on processing new claims.</p><p> </p><p>New Claim Advances are available urgently if a claimant needs support during their first assessment period, and budgeting support is available for anyone who needs extra help.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 20/05/2020 15:31:51 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1196073

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
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: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to relax means testing for universal credit applications for the duration of the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	47361
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text <p>There are no plans to relax means testing for Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>The amount of Universal Credit paid to claimants reflects, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period. Monthly assessment periods align to the way the majority of employees are paid and allows Universal Credit to be adjusted each month. This means that if a claimant’s income falls, they will not not have to wait several months for a rise in the Universal Credit. Equally, as people’s pay increases, their Universal Credit payments reduce gradually, and the taper rate ensures that people are always better off in a job.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 20/05/2020 16:50:08 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1196074

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
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 her Department distinguishes between savings for personal use and savings for the purpose of the ongoing basic maintenance of the applicant's business or self-employment when assessing universal credit applications.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	47362
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text <p>Yes - Where a claimant has capital over £16,000 we will contact them to understand their circumstances and determine eligibility. If this money is to be used for business or tax purposes, it will not be counted towards their capital, but they may be asked to prove that the money is for these purposes.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 20/05/2020 16:52:56 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1196075

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
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: Students
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 temporarily amend the eligibility criteria for universal credit to allow students who are in financial difficulty as a result of the covid-19 pandemic to claim during the summer 2020.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	47363
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text <p>A condition of entitlement for Universal Credit is that the claimant must not be in education, which excludes most students. Financial support for students comes from the system of educational loans, grants and bursaries designed for their needs. To safeguard fairness Universal Credit does not duplicate the support provided by the student support system. Exceptions are made where students have additional needs that are not met through the student support system.</p><p> </p><p>Students will continue to receive scheduled payments of loans towards their living costs for the remainder of the 2019/20 academic year, which covers the summer period.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 20/05/2020 16:14:54 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1196077

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
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 introducing a system that calculates the level of benefit a claimant is entitled to under universal credit and informs the claimant of that figure before the claim is completed.
tabling member constituency	Midlothian
tabling member printed	Owen Thompson
uin	47364
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/05/2020 answer text <p>DWP cannot provide a preliminary indication of entitlement because this cannot be calculated until the end of the first Universal Credit Assessment Period.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has published information on the Government website for prospective claimants, including signposts to independent benefit calculators.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 26/05/2020 15:09:16 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4482 label Biography information for Owen Thompson

1196116

registered interest
date	15/05/2020
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	Members: Correspondence
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 time taken was for a substantive response to letters to her office from hon. Members in the latest period for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Clwyd West
tabling member printed	Mr David Jones
uin	47216
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/05/2020 answer text <p>The information is not available in the format requested.</p><p> </p><p>The volume of correspondence to the Department’s Ministers is currently three times higher than it was prior to the coronavirus pandemic. In recent weeks the Department has also redeployed thousands of staff to manage the significant increase in claims for benefits and to ensure that claimants are paid in a timely manner. The Department ensures that urgent cases raised by hon. Members are prioritised and is taking steps to provide substantive replies in as short a time as possible.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 20/05/2020 17:07:08 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	1502 label Biography information for Mr David Jones