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1142872

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	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 claimants, who are affected by the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children, have received (a) a payment advance on their claim, (b) a budgeting advance on their claim and (c) both.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	284273
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Of the 21,700 claims affected by the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children on Universal Credit in April 2019; 11,500 (53%) received either a new claim or benefit transfer advance, 5,000 (23%) received a budgeting advance. Of those with new claim or benefit transfer advance 3,100 (14%) also received a budgeting advance.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 16:03:20 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1143160

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	Universal Credit
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 make an assessment of the compatibility of her Department’s policy of universal credit being digital by default with her Department’s Debt Management office being contactable only by (a) fax and (b) post rather than by secure email.
tabling member constituency	Alyn and Deeside
tabling member printed	Mark Tami
uin	284838
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Currently, most claimants who want to contact Debt Management call via one of the free phone numbers. However, we recognise the need for an online service to allow claimants to more easily manage any debts that they may have. Therefore, we are developing the Digital Debt Service as a replacement for our current Debt Manager system.</p><p>This new system will allow claimants to view details of any debts they have (including the current balance) and make repayments online.</p> answering member constituency Eastleigh answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 09/09/2019 12:22:03 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	1383 label Biography information for Mark Tami

1143275

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	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 steps her Department is taking to ensure that universal credit claimants are aware of how assessment periods are calculated prior to application.
tabling member constituency	Linlithgow and East Falkirk
tabling member printed	Martyn Day
uin	284759
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>The amount of Universal Credit paid to claimants reflects, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period.</p><p> </p><p>Monthly assessment periods align to the way the majority of employees are paid and how utility companies and other service providers collect payments. This allows Universal Credit to be adjusted each month, which means that if a claimant’s income falls they will not have to wait several months for a rise in their Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes a guide for claimants which tells them how Universal Credit works, including assessment periods.</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/807855/uc-and-you-v16.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/807855/uc-and-you-v16.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>The Department also publishes more specific guidance for claimants about how different earning patterns affect Universal Credit.</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles</a></p><p> </p><p>We continually review Universal Credit using feedback from claimants and stakeholders to inform further improvements to the service.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/09/2019 10:10:50 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4488 label Biography information for Martyn Day

1143324

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	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 she has made an estimate of the number of claimants of universal credit that have fallen into (a) council tax and (b) local authority rent arrears after transitioning from legacy benefits.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
uin	284560
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>We have not made an assessment of this nature, we do not hold the data requested for council tax arrears and any change in rent arrears is not solely attributed to Universal Credit.</p><p>The initial analytical work we have carried out with a single housing provider suggests that many tenants are arriving on Universal Credit with pre-existing rent arrears, supporting research carried out by the National Federation of ALMOs which shows over three quarters of their tenants come onto Universal Credit with pre-existing rent arrears. It also shows that arrears tend to increase prior to making a claim for Universal Credit, and that Universal Credit actually appears to be helping to clear arrears over time. We are currently extending this analysis to include a number of housing providers. It will be published when completed.</p><p> </p><p>We have responded to concerns in this area by putting a number of safeguards in place – 100 per cent advances repayable over 12 months, increasing to 16 months in October 2021; a two-week transition to Universal Credit Housing Payment; a new Help to Claim service; and Managed Payment to Landlord Arrangements, which allow for payments direct to the landlord if the tenant is likely to have difficulty in managing their rent payments, is unlikely to pay their rent or is in rent arrears equivalent to two months.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 11:17:21 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

1143378

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	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 discussions she has had with local authority leaders on the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on the level of demand for councils’ Local Welfare Provision schemes.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
uin	284844
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has regular contact with a range of partner organisations concerning Universal Credit including representatives from local government.</p><p>The reforms to the Social Fund in 2013 allowed local authorities in England and the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales to deliver their own local provision for people who are in need of urgent help. Local authorities are best placed to decide how to target flexible help to support local welfare needs.</p><p>We passed funding over to local authorities and devolved administrations from April 2013. This gave them maximum flexibility to deliver services as they see fit according to local needs.</p><p>New Burdens funding has been provided to councils to cover additional costs associated with Universal Credit. In 2017/18 the Department paid £13m in New Burdens funding and paid £14m in New Burdens for 2018/19. Last year we worked with a number of Local Authorities to refresh these costs resulting in £18m in New Burdens being paid in 2019/20. 67 Local Authorities received a total of £4.7m in extra payments to recognise alleged additional costs caused in the early stages of roll out.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 15:40:52 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

1143504

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	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 reduced allowances for universal credit claimants who are under 25 years old on the financial wellbeing of those claimants.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	285284
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The lower standard allowance rates for Universal Credit claimants who are under the age of 25 years reflects that they are more likely to live in someone else's household, have lower living costs, and have lower earnings expectations. It also reinforces the stronger work incentives that Universal Credit creates for this age group. Qualifying claimants can also receive separate elements to provide support for housing costs, children and childcare costs and support for disabled people and carers.</p><p> </p><p>People claiming Universal Credit move into work faster, stay in work longer and spend more time looking to increase their earnings. It provides more financial help with childcare costs (eligible claimants are able to claim up to 85 per cent of their childcare costs, compared to 70% on the legacy system), a dedicated Work Coach, and removes the 16-hour ‘cliff edge’ for those who are working.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2019 14:53:59 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1143586

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	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 claimants of universal credit were (a) employed and (b) unemployed as at 15 August 2019.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
uin	285260
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2019 answer text <p>The latest available information as at July 2019 on the number of people on Universal Credit by Employment Indicator 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 Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/09/2019 09:35:52 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1143587

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	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 she has made of the ability of universal credit claimants to access passported benefits.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
uin	285018
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>Claimants may currently be entitled to a number of other benefits because they are in receipt of Universal Credit. These are known as passported benefits, which include free school meals and free prescriptions. The eligibility criteria for each passported benefit remain the responsibility of the Departments and Devolved Administrations that own them.</p><p> </p><p>Government Departments and Devolved Administrations continue to work closely together to look at how to reduce the complexity of the current passported benefits system and put in place arrangements for Universal Credit, as it expands, that will continue to target available support at those who need it most.</p><p> </p><p>The Department currently signposts Universal Credit households to other financial support via their online account/payment statement, as well as on the GOV.UK website at: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-support" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-support</a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/09/2019 10:21:46 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1143589

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	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 discussions she has had with the Social Security Advisory Committee on the requirement for national advice organisations to receive explicit consent from a claimant to assist with their universal credit claims.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
uin	285019
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/09/2019 answer text <p>The most recent discussions with SSAC took place on 12<sup>th</sup> July 2019 and 21<sup>st</sup> August 2019.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is continuing to work with SSAC and third party organisations to understand how Universal Credit can support organisations who help our claimants.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 06/09/2019 13:32:05 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1143790

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	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 he she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the repayment period for universal credit advance payments beyond twelve months.
tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
tabling member printed	Diana Johnson
uin	285236
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit new claim advances provide access to a payment for those in financial need, which can be accessed urgently, until their first UC payment is due. Claimants can access up to 100% of the total expected monthly award, for which they can pay back over a period of up to 12 months.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has taken a number of steps to ensure that advances meet the needs of claimants and that recovery arrangements are personalised and reasonable. The maximum rate of deductions cannot normally exceed 40 per cent of the Universal Credit standard allowance and does not reduce other components of an award, such as money paid for children, housing or when someone is caring for a severely disabled person. From October 2019 this will be reduced to 30 per cent and from October 2021 we are increasing the maximum recovery period for advances from 12 to 16 months.</p><p> </p><p>The Department more broadly wants to ensure that vulnerable claimants receive the financial support they need, which is why we announced the addition of SDP payments. By August 29th, we had already paid over 6,300 claims, which together are worth over £16 million.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/09/2019 12:58:37 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson