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47691

registered interest
date	08/04/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department issues to Jobcentre Plus on giving written appointment cards to claimants with details of future appointments.
tabling member constituency	Garston and Halewood
tabling member printed	Maria Eagle
uin	195946
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Jobcentre staff are advised to confirm, in writing, the details of all appointments a claimant is required to attend. This includes the date, time and location of the appointment, what the claimant must do if they cannot attend and the consequences of failing to attend any of these appointments without good reason.</p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 10/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
tabling member	483 label Biography information for Maria Eagle

47692

registered interest
date	08/04/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what average length of time was taken to process personal independence payments applications and DS1500s for clients who were terminally ill in Wales in the last year.
tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
uin	195940
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>I refer the hon Member to the answer I gave to the hon Member for <strong>Liverpool</strong><strong>, </strong><strong>West Derby</strong><strong> and the hon Member for Airdrie and Shotts</strong><strong>,</strong> official report, 5 March, column 850W.</p><p> </p><p>Although Personal Independence Payment is a new benefit, and the Department does not have a target for completion of claims while processess are bedding in, we do deal urgently with special rules claims for terminally ill claimants. We are implementing a range of improvements to improve clearance times for people with a terminal illness, including a dedicated phone service which we introduced in February 2014.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning grouped question UIN 195827 question first answered 29/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

47693

registered interest
date	08/04/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many benefit claimants were sanctioned for failure to attend an appointment between (a) April 2012 and April 2013 and (b) April 2013 and April 2014.
tabling member constituency	Garston and Halewood
tabling member printed	Maria Eagle
uin	195947
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>In the latest quarter for which figures are available (June to Aug 2013), decisions to apply a sanction were made against approximately two per cent of JSA claims, two per cent of ISLP claims and around one quarter of a per cent of ESA claims for failure to attend an appointment</p><p> </p><p>The information requested up to September 2013 is shown in the table below.</p><p> </p><p>Number of individuals who had their benefit sanctioned for failure to attend: Great Britain, April 2012 to September 2013.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td> </td><td><p>April 2012 to March 2013</p></td><td><p>April 2013 to September 2013</p></td></tr><tr><td> </td><td> </td><td> </td></tr><tr><td><p>Total</p></td><td><p>274,650</p></td><td><p>94,340</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>Source: DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database and Income Support Computer System</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><ol start="1" type="1"><li>Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 and totals will include individuals who have had a sanction applied for more than one period e.g. if an individual had a sanction applied in April 2012 and in April 2013 then they will appear in both of these periods.</li><li>Individuals who have had claims for more than one benefit sanctioned in the period will count twice, e.g. an individual receiving an ESA sanction in April 2012 who makes a subsequent JSA claim and receives a JSA sanction will count twice</li></ol><p>3. The number of individuals sanctioned is the number of sanction or disallowance referrals where the decision was found against the claimant.</p><p>4. New sanctions rules came into force for JSA and ESA from 22 October 2012 and 3 December 2012. Further information can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jobseekers-allowance-overview-of-sanctions-rules" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/jobseekers-allowance-overview-of-sanctions-rules</a> Failure to attend for JSA includes: Failure to attend a place on a training scheme or employment programme, Failure to attend or failure to participate in an Adviser interview and Failure to attend Back to Work Session, without good reason.Failure to attend for ESA includes: Failure to attend/participate in a mandatory interview.</p><p>5. Income Support Lone Parents receive a fixed sanction of 20% of the personal allowance rate of a single claimant [not aged less than 25] for each failure to attend/participate in a Work Focused Interview until 10 pence is left in payment. This sanction lasts until the individual attends and participates in a Work Focused Interview. In the case where there is more than one sanction in place the claimant need only attend/participate in one Work Focused Interview in order for all related sanctions to be removed from their benefit.</p><p>6. Information on JSA and ESA sanctions is published and available at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
tabling member	483 label Biography information for Maria Eagle

47694

registered interest
date	08/04/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether any jobseeker's allowance claimant was sanctioned for not signing on Christmas Day.
tabling member constituency	Garston and Halewood
tabling member printed	Maria Eagle
uin	195943
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>It is not Jobcentre Plus policy to sanction jobseeker's allowance claimants for not signing on Christmas Day. Jobcentres are closed as this is a Public Holiday.</p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 10/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
tabling member	483 label Biography information for Maria Eagle

47695

registered interest
date	08/04/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's policy is when a claimant's regular signing on date date falls on a bank holiday.
tabling member constituency	Garston and Halewood
tabling member printed	Maria Eagle
uin	195945
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>Jobseeker's Allowance claimants who are due to attend their local jobcentre on a public holiday are excused from doing so and an advanced payment is issued.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants must continue to meet the conditions of entitlement, by being available for and looking for work and the actions they have taken to do so are reviewed at the claimant's next attendance.</p><p> </p><p>The claimant is informed of this and issued with a formal notification at their attendance prior to the public holiday.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 10/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
tabling member	483 label Biography information for Maria Eagle

47696

registered interest
date	08/04/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress has been made on his Department's child maintenance arrears and compliance strategy for 2012 to 2017; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
tabling member printed	Kate Green
uin	195739
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>Since 2008 we have considerably slowed down the growth of arrears via faster case processing and better enforcement. The successful introduction of the new 2012 Child Maintenance Scheme allows most paying parents to be assessed more quickly, which reduces the number of cases that accrue arrears. The new Child Maintenance Scheme is also built to trigger notification of missed payments so we can investigate non-compliance earlier, reducing the time in which arrears could build.</p><p> </p><p>We are also looking at new techniques for collecting older debt. The trial of the process of reclassifying arrears has concluded and we are analysing how this initiative might be used in the future.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green

47697

registered interest
date	08/04/2014
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
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 plans to take to ensure the effectiveness of the Sorting Out Separation Web app in providing constructive support to assist collaboration for longer-term separated parents in response to the evaluation commissioned by his Department which indicated that the Web app had little relevance or use for this group.
tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
tabling member printed	Kate Green
uin	195737
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/04/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>DWP research report 863: <em>Sorting Out Separation Web App: evaluation of effectiveness</em> highlighted that the longer-term separated found the Sorting out Separation Web app less relevant because they were more likely to know most of the information provided.</p><p> </p><p>The evaluation confirmed that we need better to understand the needs of this group. Several projects funded in the second round of the Innovation Fund are specifically focussing on what type of support works to help longer-term separated couples to collaborate. When these projects have been completed and evaluated, we will be able to consider how further to improve support for longer-term separated parents.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 10/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green

47698

registered interest
date	08/04/2014
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
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 Written Statement of 27 March 2014, Official Report, columns 56-7W, on Atos, whether Atos Healthcare will continue to carry out assessments for industrial injuries disablement benefits; and if he will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
tabling member printed	Kate Green
uin	195743
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p> </p><p> </p><p>The Written Statement, Official Report, 27 March 2014, Col. 56WS refers to the exit of Atos Healthcare from the the Medical Services Agreement. This contract includes assessments for industrial injuries disablement benefits. Atos will continue to provide assessments until the transition to a new provider in early 2015.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green

47699

registered interest
date	08/04/2014
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
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 publish his Department's risk assessment of the transfer of his Department's contract with Atos Healthcare for provision of work capability assessments to a new provider; and what steps he is taking to mitigate the risks identified in that assessment.
tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
tabling member printed	Kate Green
uin	195735
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/04/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The transition from Atos Healthcare to the new provider in 2015 provides a further opportunity to improve the service the Department offers to claimants and customers. The Department will manage the transition carefully to mitigate the impact on claimants and customers and to further mitigate any risks the new provider will initially use elements of the Atos infrastructure already in place, including IT, Estate and Atos employees (subject to TUPE).<br> <br></p><p>The priority for the new provider will be to deliver the best possible service for claimants, increase the volume of assessments carried out and reduce waiting times.</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 30/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green

47700

registered interest
date	08/04/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) timetable and (b) process will be under which debt suspension in older Child Support Agency (CSA) cases will be reviewed during the forthcoming CSA case closure process; and what process will be put in place to enable the participation of the parents in that process.
tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
tabling member printed	Kate Green
uin	195740
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The Child Support Agency (CSA) plans to close all 1993 and 2003 scheme cases over a three year period starting in 2014.</p><p> </p><p>When a client's ongoing maintenance liability has ended, the case will be reviewed to ensure any arrears balance is accurate. This process will include any suspended debt to ensure the reason for suspension remains valid and, if not, the debt will be reinstated. Whether the CSA need to contact the client during this process will depend on the circumstances of the individual case.</p><p> </p><p>When the review has been completed, both clients will be informed of the arrears balance and can contact the CSA about this should they wish to do so.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 28/04/2014 12:00:00 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green