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1147068

registered interest
date	30/09/2019
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
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 potential merits of establishing an independent commission to review the value of benefits to ensure they consistently match the cost of living.
tabling member constituency	South Cambridgeshire
tabling member printed	Heidi Allen
uin	292317
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State has a statutory duty to complete an annual review of benefit and pension rates to determine whether they have retained their value in relation to either prices or earnings.</p><p> </p><p>If there has been an increase in prices or earnings she must increase certain benefits by at least the increase in prices or earnings, using ONS data. For other benefits she may take into account the prevailing economic conditions and other relevant factors.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst organisations external to Government are free to make representations to the Secretary of State, the Department has made no assessment around the introduction of an independent commission to review the value of benefits.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 07/10/2019 13:39:43 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4516 label Biography information for Heidi Allen

1147070

registered interest
date	30/09/2019
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
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 effect of the working age benefit freeze on the household incomes of people with (a) disabilities and (b) long term health conditions.
tabling member constituency	South Cambridgeshire
tabling member printed	Heidi Allen
uin	292319
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2019 answer text <p>An Impact Assessment of the benefit freeze was published in 2015, this is available in the link below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-006C.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-006C.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>This benefit freeze excluded Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, the Support Group component of Employment and Support Allowance (for those not expected to look for work), disability premia in working-age benefits and the disabled elements of tax credits. This provides protection for those facing the additional cost of disability and long term health conditions.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 07/10/2019 11:34:07 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4516 label Biography information for Heidi Allen

1147171

registered interest
date	30/09/2019
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
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 effect of (a) sanctions and (b) conditionality on the (i) health and well-being of claimants and (ii) the ability of claimants to enter employment.
tabling member constituency	Newport West
tabling member printed	Ruth Jones
uin	292336
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2019 answer text <p>Evidence from international studies indicates that benefit systems supported by conditionality are effective at moving people into work and that sanctions are a key part of conditionality. Transitions into work typically increase following a sanction.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has committed to doing an evaluation of the effectiveness of Universal Credit sanctions at supporting claimants to search for work in response to the Work and Pensions Select Committee’s report on benefit sanctions. The Department will look to publish this by the end of 2019.</p><p> </p><p>With regards to health and well-being, the Department has not made such assessment. We engage at a personal and individual level with all claimants; Legislation already enables work coaches to tailor conditionality, apply easements, set ‘voluntary’ work-related requirements (therefore, there is no risk of a sanction) or even switch off work-related requirements altogether where it is more appropriate for the individual, in light of their circumstances, including health conditions or disability.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 07/10/2019 12:46:06 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4716 label Biography information for Ruth Jones

1145748

registered interest
date	25/09/2019
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the return envelopes provided for UC50 and ESA50 forms are first class envelopes and the envelopes provided for personal independence payments are second class.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	290670
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/10/2019 answer text <p>It is currently DWP policy to use second class post for business reply envelopes. First class business reply envelopes are only used by exception and where there is a clear business need to ensure that the appropriate rate of benefit is paid as speedily as possible.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 03/10/2019 16:15:55 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1145749

registered interest
date	25/09/2019
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
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 place in the Library (a) information for each of the benefits in respect to which Kofax Capture software is used and (b) the indexing business rules for each of those benefits.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	290671
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/10/2019 answer text <p>The following benefits use KOFAX: ESA, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, DLA 65 Plus, DLA Child, Social Fund, Retirement Pension, International Pensions, Carers Allowance, Pension Credit, Maternity Allowance, Industrial Injuries Disability Benefit, Bereavement Benefit,</p><p> </p><p>I have attached a digital copy of the Index Business Rules which will be placed in the House of Commons Library.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 04/10/2019 09:49:06 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies attachment 1 file name PQ 290671 Index Business Rules 04.10.19.xlsx title Index Business Rules
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1144758

registered interest
date	04/09/2019
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the potential (a) mortality rate and (b) number of suicides among benefit claimants in the event that the UK leaves the EU without a deal.
tabling member constituency	Liverpool, Wavertree
tabling member printed	Luciana Berger
uin	286724
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>The Department does not record mortality rates or information on the causes of benefit claimants’ deaths, as there is no causal relationship between somebody claiming a benefit and their death.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has been clear that leaving the EU with a deal is its preferred option. The Government is, however, continuing to plan for a range of scenarios, including a no deal exit from the EU. These contingencies ensure that DWP can continue to provide our vital services and that individuals will continue to be able to access DWP benefits and services on the same basis as they do now.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 09/09/2019 10:40:42 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4036 label Biography information for Luciana Berger

1142783

registered interest
date	02/09/2019
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is making to support claimants who submit their application forms for benefits on time but who do not receive an acknowledgement of receipt until after the deadline has passed, and are asked to explain why the form was submitted late.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	284416
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>DWP processes are designed to ensure claimants have adequate time to complete applications for benefits. Processes for different benefits vary and extensions can be applied. Where appropriate, reminders are issued when forms have not been received within expected timescales. Acknowledgements are sent for claims which have been submitted within timescales where applicable. If there are instances where this has not happened, we welcome the opportunity to investigate them if details can be provided.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 06/09/2019 12:50:52 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1142784

registered interest
date	02/09/2019
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she will introduce an email address to allow people to send their application for benefits electronically.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	284419
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>There are no plans to introduce email as a secure method of exchanging citizen information.</p><p> </p><p>DWP’s security policy defines how we communicate with claimants using email and ensures DWP is vigilant to risks such as data breaches and data loss as well as the possible corruption of DWP’s IT systems.</p><p> </p><p>Once information leaves DWP’s secure systems there is a risk that information may be subsequently lost, manipulated or stolen. We take positive steps to minimise these and other risks, such as limiting the exchange of personal information using email.</p><p> </p><p>We do communicate with disabled claimants using email as a reasonable adjustment where this best meets their communication needs. As there are additional security risks associated with using email we always make sure that the disabled customer is aware of the risk of potential data loss before we put this solution in place.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 06/09/2019 12:43:20 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1143590

registered interest
date	02/09/2019
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
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 effect of the benefit cap on the income of families with more than two children.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
uin	285025
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>In May 2019, 49,700 households had their Housing Benefit claim capped in Great Britain, of which 44,800 households had 2 or more dependent children. Claimants are exempt from the cap in Housing Benefit if they are entitled to Working Tax Credits. UC households are exempt if they have earnings of at least £569 per month. There are also exemptions for the most vulnerable groups such as severely disabled claimants and carers. In addition, households are exempt from the cap for 9 months (the grace period) if there is a previous consistent work history.</p><p>The average weekly cap amount for households with 2 or more dependent children deducted from the Housing Benefit award was £56 in May 2019, compared to an average cap amount of £55 for all capped households.</p><p>(Source: DWP Stat Xplore portal, ‘Benefit cap average amount by family type’ table)</p><p>In May 2019, 25,700 households had their Universal Credit claim capped in Great Britain, of which 89% (23,000) had dependent children. Statistics on the Universal Credit capped caseload, by number of dependent children in the household, will be published for the first time on the DWP Stat-Xplore portal during the w/c 9th September.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 09/09/2019 14:36:41 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield