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1190083

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
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 people claimed universal credit in each week from 1 March 2020 in (a) York and (b) throughout the UK.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	39586
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2020 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available at constituency level and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 39601 39602 39716 question first answered 29/04/2020 15:47:34 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1190116

registered interest
date	24/04/2020
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, what recent estimate she has made of the length of the waiting time for universal credit; and what steps she is taking to increase the number of staff available to provide support for universal credit claimants during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Dulwich and West Norwood
tabling member printed	Helen Hayes
uin	39735
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/04/2020 answer text <p>The Department is doing all we can to deal with exceptional levels of demand. Our priority is ensuring people get their benefit payments and that we can continue to support those who need them most. The Department has mobilised robust business continuity plans to ensure we can do just that.</p><p> </p><p>We are already redeploying 10,000 staff from other parts of DWP and are also recruiting additional staff to assist with the processing of claims, including support from other government departments and the private sector.</p><p> </p><p>We have also introduced new processes to ease pressure on waiting times for identity verification over the phone and other processes. People making new claims for Universal Credit no longer need to call the Department as part of the process. Once they have completed their online application we will call them if we need to check any of the information they have given us.</p><p> </p><p>These changes are making a real difference with at least 93% of claimants who applied for Universal Credit on 16 March receiving their first payments in full and on time.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 29/04/2020 17:14:27 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4510 label Biography information for Helen Hayes

1189395

registered interest
date	22/04/2020
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what provisions are in place to support Universal Credit claimants who need to make a non-digital claim.
tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
uin	HL3038
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The Department takes seriously the need to support claimants, and wants Universal Credit to be easy to access. It is designed to be a ‘digital-first’ service, ensuring we make best use of technology to deliver a modern and effective working-age welfare system. This allows our staff to concentrate on those people who require additional support through different channels.</p><p> </p><p>Our Universal Credit Claimant Survey, found that 98 per cent of claimants have internet access and did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be straightforward. A copy of the survey is attached.</p><p> </p><p>For those that are still unable to access or use digital services, or are not able to travel, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline – which is clearly displayed on GOV.UK. In addition, Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland have been delivering the ‘Help to Claim’ service since April 2019. The Citizens Advice ‘Help to Claim’ service offers tailored, practical support to help people make a Universal Credit claim up to receiving their first full correct payment on time, and is currently available online and by telephone.</p><p> </p><p>Although the Department offers comprehensive support for claimants to use our digital service, there will be occasions when people are unable to make their claim online, so telephone applications can be accepted. In these instances, information normally available through a claimant’s online account will be communicated in an alternative format, which is best suited to an individual’s circumstances.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 28/04/2020 16:36:39 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott attachment 1 file name HL3038 universal-credit-full-service-claimant-survey.pdf title Universal Credit Claimant Survey
tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1188451

registered interest
date	21/04/2020
answering body	Treasury
answering dept id	14
answering dept short name	Treasury
answering dept sort name	Treasury
hansard heading	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if the Government will pay tax credits claimants transitioning to universal credit until the their first universal credit payment is received.
tabling member constituency	Bristol East
tabling member printed	Kerry McCarthy
uin	37506
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/04/2020 answer text <p>Unlike Tax Credits, Universal Credit is assessed and paid monthly and is based on claimants’ actual earnings in the month, rather than their annual income.</p><p> </p><p>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. As a claimant’s first Universal Credit payment is paid from the date the claim was made, continuing to pay Tax Credits to former claimants in the interim period would result in dual provision.</p><p> </p><p>However, no one has to wait for financial support. Advance payments are available from day one to ensure that families have money to support them through this period.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, to support people during the Covid-19 outbreak we have made advances available online and over the phone, ensuring that claimants do not need to attend a jobcentre.</p> answering member constituency North East Cambridgeshire answering member printed Steve Barclay question first answered 27/04/2020 11:31:25 answering member 4095 label Biography information for Steve Barclay
tabling member	1491 label Biography information for Kerry McCarthy

1188187

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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 has plans to make people that are self-employed and have pension savings exempt from the rules on capital when applying for universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mhairi Black
uin	37726
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Regardless of employment status, any funds held in an occupational or personal pension scheme are disregarded as capital in Universal Credit until the claimant reaches the pension age of the scheme, or withdraws funds from the scheme early.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 28/04/2020 14:16:54 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4421 label Biography information for Mhairi Black

1188211

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of upfront childcare costs under the childcare element of universal credit on maternal employment rates.
tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
uin	37733
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The Department has not made an assessment of the effect of upfront childcare costs on maternal employment rates and it would require disproportionate costs to do so.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises that high childcare costs can affect parents’ decisions to take up paid work or increase their working hours. Working families claiming Universal Credit can therefore reclaim up to 85 per cent of their eligible childcare costs each month up to £646.35 for one child and £1,108.04 for two or more children. Eligible claimants can also get help from the Flexible Support Fund with initial up-front fees and advance costs as they move into work. Alternatively, help with upfront costs may also be available through Budgeting Advances.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 28/04/2020 16:19:59 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1188502

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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 couples had a claimant who was receiving a carer element as part of universal credit between (a) May and August 2019 and (b) September and December 2019.
tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
uin	37886
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The available information on the number of households with a carer entitlement on Universal Credit is published and can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p>Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 28/04/2020 12:09:30 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1188560

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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, what formula her Department uses to calculate universal credit payments for couples; and whether she has plans to review that formula.
tabling member constituency	Chesterfield
tabling member printed	Mr Toby Perkins
uin	37583
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The rate of standard allowance in universal credit for single claimants and couples is set each year by the government after a review of the level of benefit that a claimant may receive. The rates for universal credit were originally based on the corresponding rates within Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance.</p><p> </p><p>The standard rate in Universal Credit has been temporarily increased for the 20/21 tax year 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.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p /> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 28/04/2020 11:02:05 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	3952 label Biography information for Mr Toby Perkins

1188703

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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, when her Department plans to review the wording of system-generated letters to universal credit claimants.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow East
tabling member printed	David Linden
uin	37976
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The Department has recently experienced a large increase in Universal Credit claims as a result of COVID-19 outbreak and our priority is to ensure benefit payments are made on time to provide financial support.</p><p>We recognise our claimants have a diverse range of circumstances and requirements, so our system-generated letters are designed to be clear and easy to understand. They can be supplied in alternative formats, such as large print or Braille, which are best suited to an individual's circumstances where required. Contact details are provided in each letter issued, allowing questions and/or queries to be directed to the right team or person within the Department. This is in addition to the online messaging function within the Universal Credit journal.</p><p>The Department maintains a range of standardised Universal Credit letters to ensure claimants notifications are consistently and efficiently delivered. We regularly review our communication products and are always seeking to improve how we engage with our claimants.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 28/04/2020 10:41:57 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4640 label Biography information for David Linden

1188731

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
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 universal credit claims were closed after first payment as a result of a claimant not meeting their claimant commitment having been awarded limited capability for work and work-related activity in 2019.
tabling member constituency	Edmonton
tabling member printed	Kate Osamor
uin	37989
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 28/04/2020 14:23:39 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4515 label Biography information for Kate Osamor