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1673996

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	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, how many applications for Access to Work support were received in each month since 1 May 2022.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Wendy Chamberlain
uin	4568
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>The information requested about Access to Work applications is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p /><p>However, Access to Work statistics include how many applications result in provision being approved from 2007/08 to 2022/23. Please see Table 3 of the Access to Work statistics.</p><p /><p>The latest Access to Work statistics can be found here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/access-to-work-statistics" target="_blank">Access to Work statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 04/12/2023 11:54:31 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4765 label Biography information for Wendy Chamberlain

1674137

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	Unemployment: Chronic Illnesses
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an estimate of the number of people that are both economically inactive due to a health condition and on an NHS waiting list.
tabling member constituency	Hayes and Harlington
tabling member printed	John McDonnell
uin	4331
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>The department monitors trends in economic inactivity and works closely with other departments and organisations to understand the relationship between health and economic inactivity. There are a number of factors that could be contributing to a rise in economic inactivity. However, these factors are complex and may interact with one another and further work is required to establish whether, and to what extent, there is a relationship between the growth in NHS waiting lists and long-term sickness in the labour market.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 04/12/2023 13:31:06 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	178 label Biography information for John McDonnell

1673638

registered interest
date	28/11/2023
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	Personal Independence Payment: 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 steps he has taken to reduce waiting times for PIP assessments.
tabling member constituency	Brighton, Kemptown
tabling member printed	Lloyd Russell-Moyle
uin	4239
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>We are committed to ensuring people can access financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in a timely manner.  Reducing customer journey times for PIP claimants is a priority for the department and we are working constantly to make improvements to our service.</p><p /><p>We always aim to make an award decision as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to review all available evidence, including that from the claimant.</p><p /><p>We have seen a decrease in PIP clearance times, with the latest statistics showing that the average end-to-end journey has reduced from 26 weeks in August 2021 to 15 weeks at the end of July 2023. This is because we’re:</p><p /><ul><li>using a blend of phone, video and face-to-face assessments to support customers and deliver a more efficient and user-centred service;</li><li>increasing case manager and assessment provider health professional resource; and</li><li>prioritising new claims, while ensuring that claimants awaiting award reviews do not fall out of payment through no fault of their own.</li></ul><p> </p><p>In addition, the Health Transformation Programme (HTP) is modernising health and disability benefit services to create a more efficient service, to reduce processing times and improving trust in our services and decisions. As part of this, from July 2023, a limited number of claimants have been able to begin their claim for PIP entirely online, which we aim to roll out across England, Wales and Northern Ireland by the end of 2024.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 04/12/2023 12:06:17 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
tabling member	4615 label Biography information for Lloyd Russell-Moyle

1673641

registered interest
date	28/11/2023
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	Maternity Allowance: Eligibility
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 3.10 of the Autumn Statement 2023, CP 977, published on 22 November 2023, if he will take steps to ensure self-employed parents remain able to verify their eligibility for maternity allowance.
tabling member constituency	Walthamstow
tabling member printed	Stella Creasy
uin	4139
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>Self-employed parents will continue to be able to claim Maternity Allowance. We are working to reflect the changes announced in the Autumn Statement in the claims process for Maternity Allowance announced and details will be published in due course.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 04/12/2023 14:25:58 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	4088 label Biography information for Stella Creasy

1673643

registered interest
date	28/11/2023
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	Pension Credit: Applications
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 28 November 2023 to Question 3498 on Pension Credit: Applications, what steps his Department is taking to modernise the Pension Credit application process.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow North East
tabling member printed	Anne McLaughlin
uin	4204
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>Citizens currently have the choice of three routes to make an application to Pension Credit, online, by phone or by paper. Through our Service Modernisation Programme, DWP aims to further improve the process of claiming Pension Credit based on user research with customers and their representatives.</p><p><em> </em></p><p /><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 04/12/2023 14:20:12 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	4437 label Biography information for Anne McLaughlin

1673723

registered interest
date	28/11/2023
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	Pensions Ombudsman: Standards
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 reduce the waiting times for the Pensions Ombudsman to respond to enquiries that the Early Resolution Team have escalated.
tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
uin	4291
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>TPO’s Early Resolution team (ERT) investigates complaints where TPO believes the complaint may be resolved informally. Over 80% of cases that go to ERT are resolved there, but where this is not possible, the complaint is passed to TPO’s Adjudication Team. Cases may then be escalated to the Pensions Ombudsman where the complainant does not agree with the adjudicator’s decision.</p><p> </p><p>DWP have recently provided additional funding to TPO towards reducing waiting times. This funding has been used to create a new casework support team. This has significantly increased case clearances.</p><p> </p><p>Due to variation in the complexity of cases, TPO does not currently hold validated data on the average time for cases to pass through the Adjudication Team and Ombudsman.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 04/12/2023 14:28:37 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1673725

registered interest
date	28/11/2023
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	Pensions Ombudsman: Standards
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of (a) financial and (b) staffing support for the Pensions Ombudsman in (i) 2020, (ii) 2021, (iii) 2022 and (iv) 2023 to date.
tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
uin	4292
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>DWP have increased the financial support to The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO), with an additional £750,000 of funding provided in 2022/23 towards tackling the case backlog and an additional £1,698,347 in 2023/24 towards the case backlog and waiting times, enabling TPO to create a new casework support team. This has significantly increased case clearances.</p><p> </p><p>The Department also provide support, when necessary, in the areas of digital, commercial, security and HR alongside continuing stewardship support and advice.</p><p> </p><p>The TPO 2022/23 annual report and accounts are due to be laid in Parliament and will provide further detail.</p><p /> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 04/12/2023 14:33:28 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1673728

registered interest
date	28/11/2023
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	Pensions Ombudsman: Complaints
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints the Pensions Ombudsman Early Resolution Team escalated to the Pensions Ombudsman in (a) 2020, (b) 2021 and (c) 2022; and how much funding his Department provided the Pensions Ombudsman in those years.
tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
uin	4293
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>The Pensions Ombudsman (TPO) is reviewing its Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) and data as part of its business planning for 2024/25.</p><p> </p><p>TPO does not hold data in a format that could produce a validated response as the information requested does not form part of TPO’s current KPI’s. It will consider this as a metric in the work between the department and TPO when agreeing 2024/25 KPI’s.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Work and Pensions provided TPO with funding of £8,870,000 in 2020/21, £7,931,195 in 2021/22, £10,413,705 in 2022/23, and £11,268,672 in 2023/24.</p><p /><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 04/12/2023 14:31:11 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1673743

registered interest
date	28/11/2023
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	Social Security Benefits: Disqualification
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 help ensure claimants subject to benefit sanctions have adequate income to afford living essentials.
tabling member constituency	Nottingham East
tabling member printed	Nadia Whittome
uin	4297
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2023 answer text <p>Sanctions are calculated only with reference to the full value of the standard allowance to which that claimant is entitled and are deducted from the claimant’s total Universal Credit (UC) award. Sanctioned claimants who receive other awards or additional money, such as the housing and childcare elements, will continue to do so in full, unless the total UC award is eroded by the earnings taper or other income.</p><p> </p><p>As a safeguard for claimants who demonstrate they cannot meet their immediate and most essential needs as a result of their sanction, we have a well-established system of hardship payments available. These needs can include accommodation, heating, food, and hygiene. Claimants are able to apply for a hardship payment from the first assessment period that the sanction has been applied to.</p><p> </p><p>Sanctions are only applied if the claimant fails to meet a tailored requirement without good reason.</p> answering member constituency Bury St Edmunds answering member printed Jo Churchill question first answered 04/12/2023 11:53:49 answering member 4380 label Biography information for Jo Churchill
tabling member	4869 label Biography information for Nadia Whittome

1673020

registered interest
date	27/11/2023
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	State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 26 October (HL10597), in how many countries there is a legal requirement to uprate the UK State Pensions paid to those UK pensioners who live there; and which countries they are.
tabling member printed	Lord Wasserman
uin	HL637
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2023 answer text <p>The UK State Pension is payable worldwide to those who meet the qualifying conditions, without regard to nationality, and the amount is based on an individual’s National Insurance record. UK State Pensions are up-rated overseas only where there is a legal requirement to do so. The Government has no plans to change this policy.</p><p> </p><p>People who live outside the UK will not receive an increase in their State Pension unless they live in:</p><p>- an EEA country or Switzerland; or</p><p>- a country with which DWP have a reciprocal agreement that allows for it. These countries are:</p><ul><li>Barbados</li><li>Bermuda</li><li>Gibraltar</li><li>Guernsey</li><li>The Isle of Man</li><li>Israel</li><li>Jamaica</li><li>Jersey</li><li>Mauritius</li><li>the Philippines</li><li>Turkey</li><li>The United States of America, and</li><li>the separate republics of the former Yugoslavia* that are not EU Member States (Bosnia and Herzegovina; Kosovo; Montenegro; North Macedonia; and Serbia).</li></ul><p>*Following the break-up of Yugoslavia, the UK agreement with former Yugoslavia now covers Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 01/12/2023 14:59:50 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4207 label Biography information for Lord Wasserman