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1378391

	registered interest
	date	15/11/2021
	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 waivers were granted for universal credit overpayments classed as official error in financial year 2020-21.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	75017
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/11/2021 answer text <p>The table below details the number of waivers of Universal Credit Official Error overpayments granted in the requested years:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Financial Year</p></td><td><p>Number of UC Official Error overpayments where recovery was waived</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020/2021</p></td><td><p>9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021/2022 (April to October)</p></td><td><p>5</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p /><p><em>Please note that this data is taken from operational data systems, and is not intended for publication. Therefore, the data itself is not quality assured to the standard of published Official Statistics and National Statistics.</em></p><p> </p><p>DWP pays welfare benefits to around 23 million people and is committed to ensuring that the right people are paid the right amount of Universal Credit. The vast majority of benefit expenditure (more than £200bn across all benefits last financial year) is paid correctly, with front line staff working hard to prevent overpayments from occurring.</p><p> </p><p>Where an overpayment does occur, the Department has a responsibility to taxpayers to recover the money without creating undue financial hardship. Universal Credit overpayments are recoverable, irrespective of how they arose. Where recovery is made by deduction from Universal Credit, there is a limit placed on the overall amount that can be deducted. Formerly 40% of the Universal Credit Standard Allowance, this was reduced to 30% in October 2019 and again to 25% in April 2021.</p><p> </p><p>A waiver can only be granted where the recovery of the overpayment is causing substantial medical and/or financial hardship, and where clear evidence of this can be provided.</p><p> </p><p>However, any claimants struggling with the proposed rate of deductions are encouraged to contact DWP Debt Management to discuss affordability, so that a lower repayment rate can be negotiated as appropriate.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 75018 question first answered 18/11/2021 17:04:44 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1378393

	registered interest
	date	15/11/2021
	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 waivers have been granted for universal credit overpayments with the classification of official error in financial year 2021-22 to date.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	75018
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/11/2021 answer text <p>The table below details the number of waivers of Universal Credit Official Error overpayments granted in the requested years:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Financial Year</p></td><td><p>Number of UC Official Error overpayments where recovery was waived</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2020/2021</p></td><td><p>9</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>2021/2022 (April to October)</p></td><td><p>5</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p /><p><em>Please note that this data is taken from operational data systems, and is not intended for publication. Therefore, the data itself is not quality assured to the standard of published Official Statistics and National Statistics.</em></p><p> </p><p>DWP pays welfare benefits to around 23 million people and is committed to ensuring that the right people are paid the right amount of Universal Credit. The vast majority of benefit expenditure (more than £200bn across all benefits last financial year) is paid correctly, with front line staff working hard to prevent overpayments from occurring.</p><p> </p><p>Where an overpayment does occur, the Department has a responsibility to taxpayers to recover the money without creating undue financial hardship. Universal Credit overpayments are recoverable, irrespective of how they arose. Where recovery is made by deduction from Universal Credit, there is a limit placed on the overall amount that can be deducted. Formerly 40% of the Universal Credit Standard Allowance, this was reduced to 30% in October 2019 and again to 25% in April 2021.</p><p> </p><p>A waiver can only be granted where the recovery of the overpayment is causing substantial medical and/or financial hardship, and where clear evidence of this can be provided.</p><p> </p><p>However, any claimants struggling with the proposed rate of deductions are encouraged to contact DWP Debt Management to discuss affordability, so that a lower repayment rate can be negotiated as appropriate.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley grouped question UIN 75017 question first answered 18/11/2021 17:04:44 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1600764

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2023
	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 he will take steps to ensure that, when setting the qualifying dates for 2023/24 cost of living payments, Universal Credit claimants who are paid four-weekly and who are therefore not eligible for the Spring 2023 payment will be able to receive the Autumn 2023 and Spring 2024 payments.
	tabling member constituency	Nottingham North
	tabling member printed	Alex Norris
	uin	157008
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2023 answer text <p>Last year we successfully delivered tens of millions of Cost of Living Payments by keeping the policy simple. Whatever eligibility dates are selected there will be always be some individuals who are ineligible in the qualifying period – whether that is due for example to their earnings, capital or other income, or for a combination of reasons. However, we are delivering the Cost of Living Payment in three separate payments over 2023/24 to reduce the chance of someone missing out altogether.</p><p> </p><p>For those who require additional support, we are extending the Household Support Fund throughout the next financial year. This will allow local authorities in England to help households with the cost of essentials including those in need who may not be eligible for the other support we have recently made available. The devolved administrations will receive consequential funding as usual to spend at their discretion.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 07/03/2023 10:48:23 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4641 label Biography information for Alex Norris

1465302

	registered interest
	date	24/05/2022
	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 he would make an assessment of how long it would take to implement an uplift to (a) Universal Credit and (b) legacy benefits.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral South
	tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
	uin	7973
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/06/2022 answer text <p>There are no plans to make an assessment of how long it would take to implement an uplift to Universal Credit and Legacy Benefits.</p><p> </p><p>The government is providing over £15bn in further support, targeted particularly on those with the greatest need. This package is in addition to the over £22bn announced previously, with government support for the cost of living now totalling over £37bn this year. This means that millions of the most vulnerable households will get £1,200 of one-off support in total this year to help with the cost of living, with all domestic electricity customers receiving at least £400.</p><p> </p><p>This additional support means that eight million households on means-tested benefits will get £650 paid directly into their bank accounts in two lump sums - one in July, the other this autumn. There will also be separate one-off payments of £300 to pensioner households and £150 to individuals receiving disability benefits.</p><p> </p><p>To support people who need additional help later in the year, the Government is providing, from October, an extra £500 million of funding. In England, £421m will be used to extend the Household Support Fund. The Devolved Administrations will receive £79m. This is in addition to the £1bn already provided for this support.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 09/06/2022 10:12:03 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

1468922

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2022
	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 publish the data underlying Table 4 in her Department's recent paper entitled Completing the Move to Universal Credit: Our 2022-24 strategy for implementing the final phase of Universal Credit, published in April 2022.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral South
	tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
	uin	15246
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2022 answer text <p>The requested information is provided in the attached methodology document ‘Universal Credit Full-Service employment impact evaluation’.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 17/06/2022 13:40:33 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley attachment 1 file name UCFS Employment Impact Evaluation.pdf title 15246 Attachment
	tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

1468923

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2022
	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 whether the economic and fiscal benefits outlined in the Universal Credit Full Business Case Summary, published on 7 June 2018, have been delivered.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral South
	tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
	uin	15247
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2022 answer text <p>The performance of Universal Credit (UC) continues to be monitored as we proceed to complete the move to Universal Credit. As implementation of UC is not yet complete, it is not possible to carry out a full assessment of the 2018 Business Case.</p><p>Since first being introduced in 2013, Universal Credit (UC) has streamlined and simplified the benefits system to better support those in work on low incomes, as well as those who are unemployed or who cannot work. By improving work incentives and support, Universal Credit helped deliver the highest ever level of employment seen in this country just before COVID hit. A dynamic benefit that reflects people’s needs from month to month, Universal Credit successfully supported millions of people and processed a ten-fold surge in claims during the pandemic, when legacy systems would have collapsed.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 17/06/2022 13:45:56 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

1468924

	registered interest
	date	09/06/2022
	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 Universal Credit Statistics Release Strategy published on 23 March 2022, when her Department plans to start publishing experimental statistics on flows between conditionality groups, including flows on and off Universal Credit.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral South
	tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
	uin	15248
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/06/2022 answer text <p>Universal Credit statistics, with respect to conditionality regimes and flows, are still under development, as detailed in section 4 of the Department’s <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-statistical-work-programme/statistical-work-programme#under-development" target="_blank">statistical work programme</a>. The production of these statistics is dependent on further data development. Progress on these developments will be provided through the Universal Credit Statistics bulletin and the Statistical Work Programme and then pre-announced in the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics?keywords=universal%20credit&amp;content_store_document_type=upcoming_statistics&amp;organisations%5b%5d=department-for-work-pensions&amp;order=release-date-oldest" target="_blank">statistics release calendar</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 17/06/2022 13:39:59 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

1470736

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2022
	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 data her Department collects via the Universal Credit journal on claimants' skill (a) levels and (b) needs; and whether data collected is used to identify (i) potential barriers to work and (ii) the support, including training, needed to overcome those barriers.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral South
	tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
	uin	18896
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2022 answer text <p>The Universal Credit journal is not intended to collect data on claimant’s skills, levels and needs. It is a service used by claimants and staff to communicate and is one of several channels for claimants to notify of changes, ask for help or update the work coach on job search activities.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 27/06/2022 16:16:36 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

1470738

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2022
	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 support his Department provides to Universal Credit claimants on (a) payment of childcare and (b) support in accessing free childcare when appropriate.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral South
	tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
	uin	18897
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2022 answer text <p>Through Universal Credit, eligible parents can claim back up to 85% of their registered childcare costs each month up to the maximum amount of £646.35 for one child and £1,108.04 for two or more children each month, regardless of the number of hours they work. For those who need extra financial support for their first set of childcare costs when moving in to work, or when they are significantly increasing their work hours, they can apply for help from the Flexible Support Fund. Importantly, the UC childcare element can be used to top up a claimant’s eligible 15 or 30 hours of free childcare if further childcare is required to support a working parent.</p><p> </p><p>We also have products in place to ensure Work Coaches are able to explain the free childcare offer to parents. Work coaches signpost to the Childcare Choices website for more information about the wider Government childcare offers available.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 24/06/2022 10:26:18 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

1470740

	registered interest
	date	15/06/2022
	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 support is available for Universal Credit claimants to access a registered or approved childcare provider.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral South
	tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
	uin	18898
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2022 answer text <p>Through Universal Credit, eligible parents can claim back up to 85% of their registered childcare costs each month up to the maximum amount of £646.35 for one child and £1,108.04 for two or more children each month, regardless of the number of hours they work. For those who need extra financial support for their first set of childcare costs when moving in to work, or when they are significantly increasing their work hours, they can apply for help from the Flexible Support Fund. Importantly, the UC childcare element can be used to top up a claimant’s eligible 15 or 30 hours of free childcare if further childcare is required to support a working parent.</p><p> </p><p>We also have products in place to ensure Work Coaches are able to explain the free childcare offer to parents. Work coaches signpost to the Childcare Choices website for more information about the wider Government childcare offers available.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 24/06/2022 10:23:03 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern