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36515

	registered interest
	date	03/02/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	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 are currently awaiting work capability assessments.
	tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
	tabling member printed	Kate Green
	uin	186209
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>In May 2010 there were 225,000 cases with Atos Health care and as of 28 February 2014 there were around 766,000 outstanding cases awaiting Work Capability Assessments being completed. This figure does not include cases yet to be referred to Atos or cases referred to Atos but where the claimant has yet to return the claimant questionnaire.</p><p> </p><p>This includes (a) around 371,000 new claimants of Employment and Support Allowance who should be receiving the assessment rate of the benefit; (b) around 293,000 existing recipients of Employment and Support Allowance awaiting a review; and (c) around 102,000 existing Incapacity Benefit recipients awaiting reassessment.</p><p> </p><p>This figure is based on operational management information received from Atos Healthcare and is rounded to the nearest thousand.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 27/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green

36518

	registered interest
	date	03/02/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average waiting time for applicants for employment and support allowance is between submission of the ESA50 form and the date of the work capability assessment.
	tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
	tabling member printed	Kate Green
	uin	186212
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The average time from submission of an ESA50 to the completion of a face-to-face Work Capability Assessment (for both Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit Reassessment), for the period from February 2013 to January 2014, was 64 working days</p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 27/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green

38402

	registered interest
	date	11/02/2014
	answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
	answering dept id	29
	answering dept short name
	answering dept sort name
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of initial employment and support allowance claims have taken over 91 days in each of the last three years for which figures are available.
	tabling member constituency	Blackpool North and Cleveleys
	tabling member printed	Paul Maynard
	uin	187843
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/03/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p>The table estimates, for all new Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claims made in each of the last three years, which have had a determination in relation the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), the proportion of claims that were completed in over 91 days. </p><p> </p><p>Number and proportion of completed initial ESA claims each year between April 2010 and March 2013 that were completed in more than 13 weeks by year of claim start date</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td colspan="3"><p>ESA claim start date between:</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Apr-10 to </p><p>Mar-11</p></td><td><p>Apr-11 to </p><p>Mar-12</p></td><td><p>Apr-12 to </p><p>Mar-13</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Completed in more than 13 weeks</p></td><td><p>231,700</p></td><td><p>316,000</p></td><td><p>364,700</p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Percentage completed in more than 13 weeks</p></td><td><p>58</p></td><td><p>83</p></td><td><p>78</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Source: Department for Work and Pensions benefit administration dataset</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><ol start="1" type="1"><li>All values are rounded; therefore addition of all volumes for outcomes may not sum to total cases. Caseload volumes have been rounded to the nearest 100.</li><li>For around 10% of all new claims, the duration cannot be determined due to data not being available, so these have been excluded from the analysis above. These are mainly claims with the one or other of the dates missing so the time from the claim start to the notification of the WCA output cannot be calculated. Those still waiting for an assessment are also excluded.</li><li>The data presented above comes from benefit claims data held by the Department for Work and Pensions. It related to new ESA claims; Incapacity Benefit (IB) claims reassessments are not included. In October 2008, ESA replaced IB for new claims. Starting with a trial in October 2010, and reaching a full scale national roll-out in April 2011, existing IB claims began to be phased out, with claimants reassessed to see if they qualify for ESA instead.</li><li>As the Official Statistics on ESA and the WCA do not focus on benefit durations, the underlying data used to provide the information has not been quality assured to the same level, and should be treated with caution.</li><li>ESA payments commence from the start of the claim. Where the WCA takes longer than 91 days and the claimant is found to be eligible for the benefit payments of the relevant component will be backdated to the 92<sup>nd</sup> day.</li></ol><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Hemel Hempstead answering member printed Mike Penning question first answered 27/03/2014 12:00:00 answering member 1528 label Biography information for Sir Mike Penning
	tabling member	3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard

1258704

	registered interest
	date	07/12/2020
	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	Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus
	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 feasibility of restarting face-to-face work capability assessments; and what plans her Department has to expedite the backlog of cases waiting for assessment.
	tabling member constituency	Newcastle-under-Lyme
	tabling member printed	Aaron Bell
	uin	126162
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2020 answer text <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 additional Covid-related safety measures, and guidance for claimants and assessment providers to ensure compliance with the relevant public health guidance.</p><p> </p><p>Throughout the pandemic our immediate focus has been on supporting people impacted by COVID-19 by putting claims into payment as quickly as possible, as well as paying any additional benefit where claimants may be entitled to a higher award. We continue to complete paper based assessments where possible and have introduced telephone assessments.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 14/12/2020 18:11:54 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4837 label Biography information for Aaron Bell

1216231

	registered interest
	date	22/06/2020
	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	Disability: Coronavirus
	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 the easing of covid-19 lockdown restrictions on disabled people.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	uin	62685
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting disabled people affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. We continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on disabled people using existing and new data sources.</p><p> </p><p>The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work has had discussions with charities, disabled people's organisations and individuals to understand the range of experiences disabled people have had during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the support needed as lockdown restrictions are eased.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is ensuring that disabled people continue to have access to accessible communications, updated guidance, including workplace and transport related guidance, as well as other support during the Covid-19 outbreak. All equality and discrimination laws and obligations continue to apply during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>The Cabinet Office Disability Unit continues to work with disability stakeholders and across Government Departments to ensure that the needs of disabled people are considered in the UK Government’s response to COVID-19.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 62686 question first answered 30/06/2020 15:25:00 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1216232

	registered interest
	date	22/06/2020
	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	Disability: Coronavirus
	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 representatives from disabled people on the easing of covid-19 lockdown restrictions.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	uin	62686
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government is committed to supporting disabled people affected by the COVID-19 outbreak. We continue to monitor the impact of COVID-19 on disabled people using existing and new data sources.</p><p> </p><p>The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work has had discussions with charities, disabled people's organisations and individuals to understand the range of experiences disabled people have had during the COVID-19 pandemic and to identify the support needed as lockdown restrictions are eased.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is ensuring that disabled people continue to have access to accessible communications, updated guidance, including workplace and transport related guidance, as well as other support during the Covid-19 outbreak. All equality and discrimination laws and obligations continue to apply during the COVID-19 pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>The Cabinet Office Disability Unit continues to work with disability stakeholders and across Government Departments to ensure that the needs of disabled people are considered in the UK Government’s response to COVID-19.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 62685 question first answered 30/06/2020 15:25:00 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1216234

	registered interest
	date	22/06/2020
	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	Employment and Support Allowance
	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 employment and support allowance was not increased in line with the uplift in universal credit in March 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	uin	62688
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government has announced a suite of measures that can be quickly and effectively operationalised to benefit those facing the most financial disruption during the pandemic. The Department was experiencing significantly increased demand and had to prioritise the safety and stability of the benefits system overall. The IT system which supports Universal Credit has more capacity to make the necessary changes than the systems that support legacy benefits. It also uses different technology from other DWP systems and these older systems have complex interactions and interdependencies. We estimate that 2.5m households receiving Universal Credit will have benefited straight away from the increase in the standard allowances which was announced on 20 March, and which is additional to the planned annual uprating. New claimants who have either become unemployed, or whose earnings or work hours have decreased because of the outbreak, will benefit too; subject to their eligibility.</p><p><em> </em></p><p>We have also made a number of changes to legacy and other working age benefits in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including increasing certain entitlements, such as Local Housing Allowance. Up-to-date information about the employment and benefits support available, including Employment and Support Allowance, can be found here: <a href="https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/employment-and-benefits-support/" target="_blank">https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/employment-and-benefits-support/</a></p><p> </p><p>Taken together, DWP’s pandemic measures represent an injection of over £6.5 billion into the welfare system and, along with the other job and business support programmes announced by the Chancellor, represent one of the most comprehensive packages of support introduced by an advanced economy in response to COVID19.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 30/06/2020 15:29:13 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1235207

	registered interest
	date	16/09/2020
	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	Statutory Sick Pay: Coronavirus
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance her Department is providing to people with covid-19 symptoms who are required to self-isolate and do not qualify for statutory sick pay in (a) Erith and Thamesmead constituency and (b) England.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	uin	91170
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2020 answer text <p>The guidance given to customers is dependent on their own personal circumstances. They will be signposted to the most relevant benefit.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 21/09/2020 12:42:02 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1240323

	registered interest
	date	05/10/2020
	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	Foster Care: Coronavirus
	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 assessment of the potential merits of providing statutory sick pay to foster carers during the covid-19 outbreak.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	uin	99146
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2020 answer text <p>Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) provides a minimum level of income for employees when they are off work sick, or deemed incapable of work. It is paid in full by employers. To receive SSP from their employer, individuals must meet all SSP eligibility conditions, including being classed as an employee.</p><p> </p><p>SSP is just one part of the government’s safety net and the support to people in times of need during the pandemic. Where an individual’s income is reduced while off work sick or self-isolating, for example where they are not eligible for SSP, and they require further financial support they may be able to claim Universal Credit and new style Employment and Support Allowance, depending on individual circumstances. Working people on low incomes who are required to remain at home by NHS Test and Trace to help stop the spread of the virus and cannot work from home can also now receive £500.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Background</strong></p><ul><li>SSP is paid at a flat rate of £95.85 per week to eligible employees.</li><li>We have already strengthened our wider safety net by temporarily increasing the standard allowance of Universal Credit by the equivalent of £20 per week, meaning that claimants will be up to £1,040 better off for the 20/21 tax year.</li></ul> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 07/10/2020 13:51:44 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1247883

	registered interest
	date	02/11/2020
	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	Unemployment: Young People
	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 Cabinet colleagues on setting and monitoring cross-Government objectives on supporting young unemployed people during the current economic situation.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	uin	110269
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/11/2020 answer text <p>My Department works closely with a range of partners including local authorities, key stakeholders and colleagues in other Government Departments - including the Department for Education, Department for Media, Culture and Sport and HMT - to set common objectives on how we deal with the future challenges around youth employment and monitor how we are providing support.</p><p> </p><p>From September 2020 we started the implementation of the new DWP Youth Offer for all 18 to 24 year olds. This includes the introduction of our Youth Employment Programme, during which young people will be referred to the most appropriate support. We have also implemented DWP Youth Hubs and DWP Youth Employability Coaches.</p><p> </p><p>We have launched the Kickstart Scheme, dedicated to helping those young people at risk of long term unemployment develop their skills and experience through thousands of 6-month job placements.</p><p> </p><p>We will continue to monitor our policies and processes to ensure young unemployed people are effectively supported during this unprecedented time.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 09/11/2020 14:51:00 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare