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1286438
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2021-02-11more like thismore than 2021-02-11
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Employment and Support Allowance: Coronavirus remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what equalities impact assessment her Department has undertaken on the decision not to extend the £20 uplift to universal credit to employment support allowance. more like this
tabling member constituency Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey more like this
tabling member printed
Drew Hendry more like this
uin 153301 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2021-02-22more like thismore than 2021-02-22
answer text <p>The £20 per week uplift to Universal Credit was announced by the Chancellor as a temporary measure in March 2020 to support those facing the most financial disruption as a result of the public health emergency. This measure remains in place until March 2021. As the Government has done throughout this crisis, it will continue to assess how best to support people, which is why we will look at the economic and health context before making any decisions.</p><p>There are no plans to extend a benefit increase to legacy benefits. Claimants on legacy benefits can make a claim for UC if they believe that they will be better off. Claimants should check carefully their eligibility and entitlements under UC before applying as legacy benefits will end when claimants submit their claim and they will not be able to return to them in the future. For this reason, prospective claimants are signposted to independent benefits calculators on GOV.UK.</p> more like this
answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
grouped question UIN 153303 more like this
question first answered
less than 2021-02-22T16:25:28.763Zmore like thismore than 2021-02-22T16:25:28.763Z
answering member
4105
label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
tabling member
4467
label Biography information for Drew Hendry more like this
1279847
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2021-01-25more like thismore than 2021-01-25
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Employment and Support Allowance: Coronavirus remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the 365 payment period for people affected by covid-19 and claiming new style or contributions based employment and support allowance and who have not had a decision made on their capability for work in that time. more like this
tabling member constituency Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale more like this
tabling member printed
David Mundell more like this
uin 142832 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2021-01-28more like thismore than 2021-01-28
answer text <p>The Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) temporary Coronavirus regulations mean that everyone infected with covid-19, or who is required to self-isolate in line with Government guidelines, will be treated as having Limited Capability for Work in ESA without the requirement for fit notes or a Work Capability Assessment (WCA). These measures also apply to clinically extremely vulnerable people who are unable to work from home and have been advised to shield in line with the relevant public health advice in England, Wales and Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>There are no plans to extend the time limit for people claiming contributory ESA who are affected by covid-19, and reach their 365-day limit. The majority of the covid-19 related claims will not reach this limit as they are for short periods.</p><p> </p><p>Where an individual requires further financial support, they may be able to claim Universal Credit, depending on their personal circumstances.</p> more like this
answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
question first answered
less than 2021-01-28T15:09:23.883Zmore like thismore than 2021-01-28T15:09:23.883Z
answering member
4105
label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
tabling member
1512
label Biography information for David Mundell more like this
1274967
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2021-01-08more like thismore than 2021-01-08
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Employment and Support Allowance: Coronavirus remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect on claimants of the new employment and support allowance of having to wait for face-to-face work capability assessments in order to have their claim processed during the covid-19 outbreak. more like this
tabling member constituency Edinburgh South more like this
tabling member printed
Ian Murray more like this
uin 134409 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2021-01-13more like thismore than 2021-01-13
answer text <p>We are continuing to process claims for Employment and Support Allowance and refer them for a Work Capability Assessment (WCA). Claimants will receive the Assessment Rate of benefit for the first 13 weeks as normal. At present, claimants may stay on the assessment rate for longer than usual.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The health and safety of our claimants and staff is our key priority. We suspended all face-to-face assessments for sickness and disability benefits in March. This temporary suspension, brought in to protect people from unnecessary risk of coronavirus at the outset of the pandemic, remains in place, and is being kept under review in line with the latest public health guidance. Any re-introduction of face-to-face assessments would involve stringent Covid-19 related safety measures, supported by guidance for claimants and assessment providers to ensure compliance with the relevant public health guidance.</p><p> </p><p>Throughout the pandemic we have continued to complete paper-based assessments wherever possible and telephone assessments have been in place since last summer with the number of claims being assessed through this channel increasing. If a claimant qualifies for an additional amount following their WCA, it will be backdated to ensure no long-term loss.</p><p> </p><p>Where an individual’s income is reduced because they cannot work due to disability or a health condition and they require further financial support, they may also be able to claim Universal Credit, depending on their personal circumstances.</p>
answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
grouped question UIN 134410 more like this
question first answered
less than 2021-01-13T14:30:10.75Zmore like thismore than 2021-01-13T14:30:10.75Z
answering member
4105
label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
tabling member
3966
label Biography information for Ian Murray more like this
1274969
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2021-01-08more like thismore than 2021-01-08
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Employment and Support Allowance: Coronavirus remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the financial effect on claimants with (a) Parkinson's disease and (b) other degenerative and incurable diseases of the new employment and support allowance who will not have their claims processed without a face-to-face interview due to postponed interviews during the covid-19 outbreak; and what arrangements are being put in place to ensure that those claimants can have their applications assessed in a timely manner. more like this
tabling member constituency Edinburgh South more like this
tabling member printed
Ian Murray more like this
uin 134410 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2021-01-13more like thismore than 2021-01-13
answer text <p>We are continuing to process claims for Employment and Support Allowance and refer them for a Work Capability Assessment (WCA). Claimants will receive the Assessment Rate of benefit for the first 13 weeks as normal. At present, claimants may stay on the assessment rate for longer than usual.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The health and safety of our claimants and staff is our key priority. We suspended all face-to-face assessments for sickness and disability benefits in March. This temporary suspension, brought in to protect people from unnecessary risk of coronavirus at the outset of the pandemic, remains in place, and is being kept under review in line with the latest public health guidance. Any re-introduction of face-to-face assessments would involve stringent Covid-19 related safety measures, supported by guidance for claimants and assessment providers to ensure compliance with the relevant public health guidance.</p><p> </p><p>Throughout the pandemic we have continued to complete paper-based assessments wherever possible and telephone assessments have been in place since last summer with the number of claims being assessed through this channel increasing. If a claimant qualifies for an additional amount following their WCA, it will be backdated to ensure no long-term loss.</p><p> </p><p>Where an individual’s income is reduced because they cannot work due to disability or a health condition and they require further financial support, they may also be able to claim Universal Credit, depending on their personal circumstances.</p>
answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
grouped question UIN 134409 more like this
question first answered
less than 2021-01-13T14:30:10.797Zmore like thismore than 2021-01-13T14:30:10.797Z
answering member
4105
label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
tabling member
3966
label Biography information for Ian Murray more like this
1252651
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2020-11-17more like thismore than 2020-11-17
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Employment and Support Allowance: Coronavirus remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of claimants have been kept on the assessment rate of new style employment and support allowance because they cannot access a telephone assessment; and what conditions those claimants have. more like this
tabling member constituency Airdrie and Shotts more like this
tabling member printed
Neil Gray more like this
uin 116495 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2020-11-23more like thismore than 2020-11-23
answer text <p>The information requested is not held.</p> more like this
answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
question first answered
less than 2020-11-23T13:58:09.367Zmore like thismore than 2020-11-23T13:58:09.367Z
answering member
4105
label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
tabling member
4365
label Biography information for Neil Gray more like this
1249204
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2020-11-05more like thismore than 2020-11-05
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Employment and Support Allowance: Coronavirus remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have (a) failed to attend or (b) failed to participate in a telephone assessment for employment and support allowance since March 2020. more like this
tabling member constituency Oldham East and Saddleworth more like this
tabling member printed
Debbie Abrahams more like this
uin 112059 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2020-11-10more like thismore than 2020-11-10
answer text <p>We have interpreted your question (a) as being failed to attend and the case returned to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). From the introduction of telephony Work Capability Assessments to 6 November 2020, 18 Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) cases have been returned to the DWP due to failure of the customer to attend their telephone assessment.</p><p>We are unable to provide a figure for how many people have failed to participate in a telephone assessment because the information requested is not available.</p><p> </p> more like this
answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
question first answered
less than 2020-11-10T16:52:52.633Zmore like thismore than 2020-11-10T16:52:52.633Z
answering member
4105
label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
tabling member
4212
label Biography information for Debbie Abrahams more like this
1194994
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2020-05-12more like thismore than 2020-05-12
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Employment and Support Allowance: Coronavirus remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to (a) waive the six week penalty and (b) enable the backdating of claims in relation to new-style employment support allowance for people with a shortfall in contributions who have paid a lump sum during the covid-19 outbreak. more like this
tabling member constituency Belfast South more like this
tabling member printed
Claire Hanna more like this
uin 46190 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2020-05-18more like thismore than 2020-05-18
answer text <p>We have made a number of changes to working age benefits in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including increasing certain entitlements. The COVID-19 outbreak continues to be a rapidly evolving situation and we consider whether further action is appropriate on an ongoing basis.</p> more like this
answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
question first answered
less than 2020-05-18T09:49:25.967Zmore like thismore than 2020-05-18T09:49:25.967Z
answering member
4105
label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
tabling member
4827
label Biography information for Claire Hanna more like this
1188276
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2020-04-20more like thismore than 2020-04-20
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Employment and Support Allowance: Coronavirus remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to increase Employment and Support Allowance during the covid-19 outbreak. more like this
tabling member constituency Paisley and Renfrewshire South more like this
tabling member printed
Mhairi Black more like this
uin 37759 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2020-04-28more like thismore than 2020-04-28
answer text <p>We currently have no plans to increase Employment and Support Allowance above its current rates.</p><p>We have announced a suite of measures that can be quickly and effectively operationalised to benefit those facing the most financial disruption, such as increasing the standard rate in Universal Credit by £86.67 per month (equivalent to £20 per week) on top of the planned annual uprating. This additional increase means claimants will be up to £1040 better off. We estimate 2.5m households on UC will benefit straight away, as well as new claimants who become unemployed or whose earnings or work hours decrease because of the outbreak. The Universal Credit IT system is significantly more flexible than our legacy systems and uses different technology from other DWP systems. The Department is experiencing significant increased demand and the Government has to prioritise the safety and stability of the benefits system overall.</p><p>We have also made a number of changes to legacy benefits like Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including increases in entitlement. These new measures include:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Providing more support for benefit claimants in the Private Rented Sector by increasing Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30th percentile, helping to alleviate affordability challenges. Those receiving Housing Benefit and legacy benefits will benefit from this increase.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Treating all ESA claimants who satisfy the conditions of entitlement and are suffering from COVID-19 or who are required to self-isolate in line with government guidance, including vulnerable individuals who have been advised by the NHS to ‘shield’ (stay at home for at least 12 weeks) because they are at high risk of severe illness, as having limited capability for work, without the requirement to undergo a Work Capability Assessment,</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Removing waiting days for ESA, so it will be payable from day one of the claim, subject to the claimant satisfying the normal conditions of entitlement; and,</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Allowing disabled and sick claimants who cannot attend a reassessment for Personal Independence Payments, Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit to continue to receive their payments while their assessment is rearranged.</li></ul>
answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
question first answered
less than 2020-04-28T14:50:21.58Zmore like thismore than 2020-04-28T14:50:21.58Z
answering member
4105
label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
tabling member
4421
label Biography information for Mhairi Black more like this
1187550
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2020-03-24more like thismore than 2020-03-24
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Employment and Support Allowance: Coronavirus remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that employment support allowance and new style employment support allowance applications (a) can be made online and (b) are processed urgently during the covid-19 outbreak. more like this
tabling member constituency Weaver Vale more like this
tabling member printed
Mike Amesbury more like this
uin 34408 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2020-04-21more like thismore than 2020-04-21
answer text <p>On average we are processing ‘new style’ Employment and Support Allowance (NSESA) claims in 2.2 days but we recognise people will have found it difficult to speak to us given the volume of traffic, and so we have fast-tracked the development of an online application process for NSESA, which went live on 20 April. This will allow the majority of people who need to claim this benefit to do so online. The NSESA claim phone lines are still available for people who do not have access to, or who cannot, use the online system. DWP have prioritised the clearance of all benefit claims by moving colleagues to front line processing roles, which has significantly increased our capacity and we are endeavouring to clear claims received as quickly as possible.</p><p> </p><p>ESA is now closed as a means-tested benefit for new claimants in the majority of cases and working-age claimants with a disability or health condition should now make a claim to Universal Credit.</p> more like this
answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
question first answered
less than 2020-04-21T16:37:57.18Zmore like thismore than 2020-04-21T16:37:57.18Z
answering member
4105
label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
tabling member
4667
label Biography information for Mike Amesbury more like this
1185726
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2020-03-17more like thismore than 2020-03-17
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Employment and Support Allowance: Coronavirus remove filter
house id 1 more like this
legislature
25259
pref label House of Commons more like this
question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has plans to pay employment and support allowance to claimants on the first day of application as a result of the covid-19 outbreak. more like this
tabling member constituency Westmorland and Lonsdale more like this
tabling member printed
Tim Farron more like this
uin 30722 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction true more like this
date of answer less than 2020-03-23more like thismore than 2020-03-23
answer text <p><del class="ministerial">As both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.</del></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Those applying for Contributory ESA are able to claim from day 1 – as opposed to day 8. And we have removed the need for face-to-face assessment.</ins></p> more like this
answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
question first answered
less than 2020-03-23T16:39:53.44Zmore like thismore than 2020-03-23T16:39:53.44Z
question first ministerially corrected
less than 2020-04-15T15:01:59.653Zmore like thismore than 2020-04-15T15:01:59.653Z
answering member
4105
label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
previous answer version
13995
answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
answering member
4105
label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
tabling member
1591
label Biography information for Tim Farron more like this