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1239015

	registered interest
	date	29/09/2020
	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	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 progress she has made on improving Universal Credit Support Delivered Locally and wider partnership support in support of vulnerable people, as outlined as a priority in the Universal Credit Programme Board paper 5 (UCPB180517).
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	96766
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/10/2020 answer text <p>Universal Credit Support has been improved with the introduction of a strengthened offer which includes help with digital access and budgeting, and support with other activities, such as identity verification, to improve payment timeliness.</p><p> </p><p>With COVID-19 there has been an increase in demand for Help to Claim. The latest validated management information shows that Citizens Advice (England and Wales) and Citizens Advice Scotland have supported over 250,000 people through the Help to Claim period from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020. Over 8 in 10 people who received support rated Help to Claim as “easy” or “very easy” to use, and 9 in 10 people would recommend it. This is funded within the renewed 39m package for 20/21.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 07/10/2020 17:10:45 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1239014

	registered interest
	date	29/09/2020
	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	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 progress she has made on the new agent-led process for both personal and corporate appointees, as outlined as a priority in the Universal Credit Programme Board paper 5 (UCPB180517).
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	96765
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/10/2020 answer text <p>The process to establish a new appointee or to validate an existing appointee for another benefit has been rolled out across all Jobcentres. The process determines whether an appointee is necessary and the best course of action. In making the decision, the Department must be satisfied that the claimant is not able to manage their own affairs because of a mental incapacity or severe physical disability.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/10/2020 16:53:53 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1239013

	registered interest
	date	29/09/2020
	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	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 progress she has made in ensuring that universal credit claimants can make and maintain claims in a number of ways regardless of circumstance as outlined as a priority in the Universal Credit Programme Board paper 5 (UCPB180517).
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	96764
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/10/2020 answer text <p>The application process for Universal Credit is designed to be as quick and easy as possible so that that claimants receive money at the earliest opportunity. It is a predominantly digital service, ensuring we make best use of technology to deliver a modern and effective working-age welfare system, allowing our staff to concentrate on those people who require additional support. But the Department recognises and continuously evaluates the need to support vulnerable claimants. The Universal Credit system provides for complex needs to be recorded in a way which supports staff working on that claim to the particular circumstances of the individual.</p><p> </p><p>The Department offers comprehensive support for claimants to use our digital service, but for those unable to make or maintain their claim online, telephone support is available. In these instances, information normally available through a claimant’s online account will be communicated through the most suitable alternative format.</p><p> </p><p>Work Coaches receive training to support claimants with complex needs, including those with special needs or disabilities, and have access to guidance and locally-tailored specialist support for those whom they are helping move into, or stay in work.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Department funds Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland to deliver ‘Help to Claim’ which provides tailored, practical support to claimants making a Universal Credit claim and is available across Great Britain. Claimants can access this support through self-referral, or may be directed towards or referred to the service by DWP or other support agencies.</p><p> </p><p>We work closely with a range of partner organisations to ensure ‘wrap around support’ for people on Universal Credit. Some have ‘trusted partner’ status, for example social landlords, and others are learning and support organisations that provide products and services for people on Universal Credit.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 96762 question first answered 05/10/2020 14:53:53 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1239012

	registered interest
	date	29/09/2020
	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	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 progress she has made on improving the universal credit service to customers without bank accounts, as outlined as a priority in the Universal Credit Programme Board paper 5 (UCPB180517).
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	96763
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/10/2020 answer text <p>Since May 2017 Universal Credit has improved the support it offers to claimants without bank accounts including, where appropriate, providing support to complete the process of setting up a bank account.</p><p> </p><p>Many high street banks provide support for claimants who can manage a basic bank account, to set one up and will advise them. Advice is also available from various advisory services, including the Money and Pension Service.</p><p> </p><p>Work Coaches will assess claimants’ financial needs at their first interview and can refer them to more specialist support for personal budgeting, money guidance and debt advice as appropriate, including through the Money and Pensions Service.</p><p> </p><p>Measures are in place to make payments through other methods where someone does not have a bank account. Universal Credit can, in certain circumstances, can be paid via the HMG Payment Exception Service, which allows claimants to access payments through Paypoint outlets.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/10/2020 15:01:55 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1239011

	registered interest
	date	29/09/2020
	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	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 analysis she has undertaken on the effectiveness of the new functionality outlined in the Universal Credit Programme Board minutes from the meeting held on 18 May 2017, that focused on early identification of universal credit claimants who may have complex needs.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	96762
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/10/2020 answer text <p>The application process for Universal Credit is designed to be as quick and easy as possible so that that claimants receive money at the earliest opportunity. It is a predominantly digital service, ensuring we make best use of technology to deliver a modern and effective working-age welfare system, allowing our staff to concentrate on those people who require additional support. But the Department recognises and continuously evaluates the need to support vulnerable claimants. The Universal Credit system provides for complex needs to be recorded in a way which supports staff working on that claim to the particular circumstances of the individual.</p><p> </p><p>The Department offers comprehensive support for claimants to use our digital service, but for those unable to make or maintain their claim online, telephone support is available. In these instances, information normally available through a claimant’s online account will be communicated through the most suitable alternative format.</p><p> </p><p>Work Coaches receive training to support claimants with complex needs, including those with special needs or disabilities, and have access to guidance and locally-tailored specialist support for those whom they are helping move into, or stay in work.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Department funds Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland to deliver ‘Help to Claim’ which provides tailored, practical support to claimants making a Universal Credit claim and is available across Great Britain. Claimants can access this support through self-referral, or may be directed towards or referred to the service by DWP or other support agencies.</p><p> </p><p>We work closely with a range of partner organisations to ensure ‘wrap around support’ for people on Universal Credit. Some have ‘trusted partner’ status, for example social landlords, and others are learning and support organisations that provide products and services for people on Universal Credit.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 96764 question first answered 05/10/2020 14:53:53 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1239010

	registered interest
	date	29/09/2020
	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	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 Information Commissioner’s decision requiring the publication of the 2017 Universal Credit Programme Board papers, if she will place in the Library copies of the Universal Credit Programme Board papers for (a) 2018 and (b) 2019.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	96761
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/10/2020 answer text <p>In line with the Universal Credit Programme Board publication strategy deposited in the House of Commons library on 1 November 2018 (<a href="http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2018-1083/Letter_-__Future_Publication.pdf" target="_blank">http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2018-1083/Letter_-__Future_Publication.pdf</a>), Universal Credit Programme Board papers are deposited in the House of Commons library after two years, twice yearly and in 6 monthly batches.</p><p> </p><p>The next batch of papers will be deposited in October 2020 and will cover the period March 2018 – September 2018. The following scheduled deposit will be in April 2021 and will cover the period October 2018 – March 2019</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 05/10/2020 14:58:10 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1236679

	registered interest
	date	22/09/2020
	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	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 Information Commissioner's Office's recommendation of 10 April 2019, RFA0715409, if she will publish, alongside her Department's published policy on universal credit, a ready-to-use template form for explicit consent for universal credit for a representative to act on behalf of an individual client.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	93510
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2020 answer text <p>The Universal Credit (UC) system is structured around an online personal account which contains all the information relevant to the claim. This includes claimants’ bank account details, savings, capital, medical history, family relationships and address information, which means that we have a responsibility to ensure that a high level of security and protection is in place, and that we take all reasonable steps to protect our claimants and their data which includes ensuring that consent is explicitly given to share it.</p><p> </p><p>As the amount of personal data available on UC is far greater than in the legacy benefit systems, any data breach has far reaching consequences for claimants, and so we need to balance consent against this risk. Therefore, a policy of explicit consent exists to help reduce the risk of fraud by ensuring that claimants’ data is kept safe from unscrupulous organisations and individuals. The emphasis here is not to hinder people receiving support to help them make and manage their claim, but to make sure we protect claimants’ personal data and other information.</p><p> </p><p>Where explicit consent is needed it can be quickly given in different ways; over the phone or via the online journal, at any time during a UC claim. This is a far simpler and more straightforward process than in the legacy benefit systems. Once consent is given, we will work with claimants’ representatives.</p><p> </p><p>Following the Social Security Advisory Committee’s report into consent in UC on 8 September 2020, the Department continues to consider how best to safeguard personal data moving forward, whilst allowing those claimants needing support from representatives to do so in a safe and secure manner.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 25/09/2020 14:05:13 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1236678

	registered interest
	date	22/09/2020
	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	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 Information Commissioner’s letter to her Department of 10 April 2019 which stated that explicit consent for universal credit was unduly restrictive, if she will make it her policy to (a) remove the requirement for explicit consent for universal credit and (b) enable representatives to speak on a client's behalf.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	93509
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/09/2020 answer text <p>The Universal Credit (UC) system is structured around an online personal account which contains all the information relevant to the claim. This includes claimants’ bank account details, savings, capital, medical history, family relationships and address information, which means that we have a responsibility to ensure that a high level of security and protection is in place, and that we take all reasonable steps to protect our claimants and their data which includes ensuring that consent is explicitly given to share it.</p><p> </p><p>As the amount of personal data available on UC is far greater than in the legacy benefit systems, any data breach has far reaching consequences for claimants, and so we need to balance consent against this risk. Therefore, a policy of explicit consent exists to help reduce the risk of fraud by ensuring that claimants’ data is kept safe from unscrupulous organisations and individuals. The emphasis here is not to hinder people receiving support to help them make and manage their claim, but to make sure we protect claimants’ personal data and other information.</p><p> </p><p>Where explicit consent is needed it can be quickly given in different ways; over the phone or via the online journal, at any time during a UC claim. This is a far simpler and more straightforward process than in the legacy benefit systems. Once consent is given, we will work with claimants’ representatives.</p><p> </p><p>Following the Social Security Advisory Committee’s report into consent in UC on</p><p>8 September 2020, the Department continues to consider how best to safeguard personal data moving forward, whilst allowing those claimants needing support from representatives to do so in a safe and secure manner.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 25/09/2020 13:56:17 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck