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1079383

	registered interest
	date	28/02/2019
	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 adequacy of staffing levels in universal credit centres; and what proportion of fixed-term staff working in universal credit centres are on (a) permanent contracts and (b) zero-hour contracts.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
	tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
	uin	227130
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/03/2019 answer text <p>The Department regularly reviews both the numbers of people working in Universal Credit service centres and their performance to ensure we have the right number of people available to manage claimants Universal Credit claims. Services and staff training is assessed, both in real time to meet any short term peaks in demand and also reviewed for longer term improvements to ensure the service continues to meet customer service expectation.</p><p> </p><p>Our priority is to give all employees, including those delivering Universal Credit, the necessary resources, including manageable workloads, so that they can carry out their roles successfully.</p><p> </p><p>The size of a Case Manager’s caseload is dependent on a number of factors, including the complexity of the caseload and experience of the case manager.</p><p> </p><p>All staff on fixed-term contracts are employed on the basis of agreed full or part time hours. No staff are employed on zero-hour contracts.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 05/03/2019 17:53:37 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1037894

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2019
	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 employment and support allowance claimants who have appealed their unsuccessful work capability assessment have been transferred onto universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	206455
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2019 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton grouped question UIN 206454 question first answered 11/01/2019 14:30:04 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1052222

	registered interest
	date	31/01/2019
	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, with reference to the Written Statements of 7 June 2018, WS745 and 11 January 2019, WS1245 on universal credit, whether the backdated payment of severe disability premium will be subject to the capital limit rules.
	tabling member constituency	Bethnal Green and Bow
	tabling member printed	Rushanara Ali
	uin	215193
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/02/2019 answer text <p>The draft Universal Credit (Managed Migration Pilot and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 contain provision regarding the treatment of the Severe Disability Premium lump sum payment.</p><p> </p><p>These draft regulations state that any amount paid as a lump sum is to be disregarded in the calculation of capital for the duration of the award or, if longer, twelve months from the date of that payment.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 06/02/2019 11:15:10 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
	tabling member	4138 label Biography information for Rushanara Ali

1050320

	registered interest
	date	29/01/2019
	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	What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on the personal finances of claimants.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	908886
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit replaces an outdated system of six different benefits, ensuring it always pays to work. We’ve scrapped the seven waiting days for Universal Credit so that people get their payments faster, and we’ve increased advances so everyone who needs it can get their first month’s pay within five days.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 29/01/2019 15:57:34 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1051329

	registered interest
	date	30/01/2019
	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, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the potential costs to the public purse of implementing changes to universal credit's automated systems in response to the High Court decision in R (Johnson, Woods, Barrett and Stewart) v SSWP CO/1552/2018.
	tabling member constituency	Cardiff North
	tabling member printed	Anna McMorrin
	uin	214622
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/02/2019 answer text <p>I understand that the Department for Work and Pensions is carefully considering the High Court’s Judgment and it is therefore not appropriate to comment on this case, which is a matter for the Department for Work and Pensions.</p> answering member constituency South West Norfolk answering member printed Elizabeth Truss question first answered 07/02/2019 09:22:54 answering member 4097 label Biography information for Elizabeth Truss
	tabling member	4632 label Biography information for Anna McMorrin

1037814

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2019
	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, pursuant to her oral contribution of 7 January 2019, Official Report, column 3, what discussions she has had with the Leader of the House on what date in 2020 the planned vote on managed migration to universal credit will take place.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	206210
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2019 answer text <p>The Department has, in a Written Ministerial Statement today, set out a revised legislative plan for Universal Credit managed migration regulations.</p><p> </p><p>This change provides the reassurance Parliament has requested, that we will report on our findings from the pilot before bringing forward legislation to extend managed migration.</p><p> </p><p>This legislation will be subject to normal Parliamentary processes and any Parliamentary activity in relation to the revised regulations will be for parliament to consider.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 11/01/2019 14:15:58 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1037899

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2019
	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, pursuant to the Answer of 8 March 2018 to Question 130822 on Universal Credit, how many universal credit claimants have a level of deduction from the standard allowance (a) at the 40 per cent and (b) above the 40 per cent level.
	tabling member constituency	High Peak
	tabling member printed	Ruth George
	uin	206457
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/02/2019 answer text <p>Our internal data shows that, of all Universal Credit Full Service awards in September 2018:</p><p> </p><p>(a) 7% (60,000 claims) of all Universal Credit Full Service eligible* claims had deductions at 40% of the Standard Allowance.</p><p> </p><p>(b) 0.6% (5,000 claims) of Universal Credit Full Service eligible claims had deductions that exceeded the normal 40% maximum deduction rate. These are due to last resort deductions which are only applied to protect claimant welfare by helping prevent disconnection or eviction (for example, service charges, rent, gas or electricity arrears).</p><p> </p><p>*Eligible claimants are claimants that have satisfied all the requirements of claiming Universal Credit; they have provided the necessary evidence, signed their claimant commitment and are eligible and have received their first payment.</p><p> </p><p>These figures do not include sanctions or fraud penalties which are reductions of benefit rather than deductions. In these cases, a priority order is applied so that deductions for arrears of housing costs or fuel costs are applied first, in order to protect claimant welfare. Volumes are rounded to the nearest 1,000.</p><p> </p><p>If a claimant is in financial difficulty as a result of the level of deductions being made they can contact the Department to request that a reduction in deductions be considered.</p><p> </p><p>At Autumn Budget 2018 we announced we will reduce the maximum rate at which deductions can be made from a Universal Credit award from 40% to 30% of the standard allowance, from October 2019. Additionally, from October 2021, the recovery period for advances will increase from 12 to 16 months. This will help over 600,000 families to manage their debts at any one point when roll-out is complete, providing them with, on average, £295 extra a year as their debts are repaid over a longer period.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 13/02/2019 15:16:20 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 94875 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George

1037964

	registered interest
	date	08/01/2019
	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 support people making universal credit applications who do not have access to a computer.
	tabling member constituency	Wallasey
	tabling member printed	Ms Angela Eagle
	uin	206260
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/01/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit is a digital service. The Universal Credit Full Service Claimant Survey (published on 8 June 2018) shows that 98% of claimants made their claim online, with 96% saying they had regular access to the internet.</p><p>If a claimant needs more intensive or specific support to make their claim, face-to-face and other help is available through our current Universal Support Assisted Digital Service offer, which provides bespoke help, support and skills for claimants to make and maintain their digital account online. Universal Credit has been designed with accessibility in mind and we are committed to providing personalised support for all claimants.</p><p> </p><p>All jobcentres across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. 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. In exceptional circumstances, a home visit can be arranged to support a claimant in making and maintaining their claim.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 11/01/2019 14:25:38 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	491 label Biography information for Dame Angela Eagle

1038382

	registered interest
	date	09/01/2019
	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 plans to bring forward separate proposed regulations to cover the migration of claimants of legacy benefits to universal credit for (a) the 10,000 claimants to be migrated from July 2019 and (b) the remaining claimants to be migrated from 2020; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	206714
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/01/2019 answer text <p>The Government will now seek powers for a pilot for managed migration and has replaced the regulations laid before the House on 5 November 2018, with two separate Statutory Instruments.</p><p>There is a new provision within one of these Statutory Instruments which will mean that we will only move 10,000 onto Universal Credit as part of managed migration. In this way the Government is legislating for ‘piloting powers’ rather than the migration of all claimants. This is in line with suggestions from both the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee and the Work and Pensions Select Committee. We will report on our findings from the pilot before bringing forward legislation to extend managed migration.</p><p>The pilot will begin - as planned - from July 2019 and does not affect the timeline for delivering Universal Credit, which will be completed in 2023.</p><p>Written statement HCWS1243, laid on 11 January 2019, confirms this: <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-01-11/HCWS1243/" target="_blank">https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2019-01-11/HCWS1243/.</a></p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 14/01/2019 18:13:04 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

1038936

	registered interest
	date	10/01/2019
	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 effect on the financial circumstances of universal credit claimants who receive their wages on a fixed day each month and therefore have multiple pay days during an assessment period; and if she will make a statement.
	tabling member constituency	Blaenau Gwent
	tabling member printed	Nick Smith
	uin	207176
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/01/2019 answer text <p>Universal Credit payments reflect, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period. Assessment periods allow for Universal Credit awards to be adjusted on a monthly basis, ensuring that if a claimant’s income falls, they do not have to wait several months for a rise in their Universal Credit award.</p><p> </p><p>Some claimants receive earnings from work multiple times within an assessment period if they are paid via four-weekly, fortnightly, or weekly patterns. This in turn may reduce, or in some cases, nil the Universal Credit award the claimant receives that month. Claimants can always discuss the implications of this with their case managers and work coaches and can be referred to Personal Budgeting Support to help them manage their budgeting.</p><p> </p><p>If a claimant’s Universal Credit claim is closed due to this, claimants can re-claim the following month via a more simplified process than for an initial claim. We have produced guidance to help ensure claimants, staff and representatives are aware of the importance of reporting accurate dates and the impact on payment cycles. This is available at the following link: <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>The Government is working with employers to ensure that they use the most appropriate payment practices and comply with RTI guidelines in order to minimise the incidence of erroneous or late reporting by employers. HMRC have recently updated guidance to reiterate to employers the importance of reporting accurate dates and the impact on payment cycles; the Financial Secretary to the Treasury is working closely with HMRC and employers to do this.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 18/01/2019 15:22:58 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
	tabling member	3928 label Biography information for Nick Smith