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1366478

	registered interest
	date	08/11/2021
	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	What recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of the level of universal credit payments.
	tabling member constituency	East Renfrewshire
	tabling member printed	Kirsten Oswald
	uin	904068
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2021 answer text <p>The Secretary of State is legally required to conduct an annual review of working age benefits rates to determine whether they have retained their value in relation to the general level of prices.</p><p> </p><p>The up-rating process for working age benefits has traditionally relied on the September CPI figure and in April 2021 Universal Credit was increased by CPI of 0.5%.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 08/11/2021 17:52:24 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4413 label Biography information for Kirsten Oswald

1366482

	registered interest
	date	08/11/2021
	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	What assessment she has made of the potential effect of ending the uplift to universal credit on (a) household budgets and (b) levels of poverty.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston upon Hull North
	tabling member printed	Dame Diana Johnson
	uin	904072
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2021 answer text <p>The uplift to Universal Credit was a temporary measure, that is why an assessment has not been completed on its withdrawal.</p><p>This Government is wholly committed to supporting those on low incomes, and continues to do so through many measures. We expect to spend over £111 billion on welfare support for people of working age in 2021/22.</p><p>Universal Credit recipients in work will soon benefit from a reduction in the Universal Credit taper rate from 63% to 55%, and increasing the work allowance by £500 per year means that 1.9m working households will be able to keep substantially more of what they earn. These changes represent an effective tax cut for low income working households in receipt of UC worth £2.2 billion a year in 2022-23, for the lowest paid in society, and are combined with a rise in the National Living Wage to £9.50 per hour.</p><p>We recognise that some people may require extra support over the winter as we enter the final stages of recovery, which is why vulnerable households across the country will now be able to access a new £500 million support fund to help them with essentials. The Household Support Fund will provide £421 million to help vulnerable people in England with the cost of food, utilities and wider essentials. The Barnett Formula will apply in the usual way, with the devolved administrations receiving almost £80 million (£41m for the Scottish Government, £25m for the Welsh Government and £14m for the NI Executive), for a total of £500 million.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 08/11/2021 17:47:39 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	1533 label Biography information for Dame Diana Johnson

1366481

	registered interest
	date	08/11/2021
	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	What assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of ending the universal credit uplift on levels of in-work relative poverty.
	tabling member constituency	Bethnal Green and Bow
	tabling member printed	Rushanara Ali
	uin	904071
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/11/2021 answer text <p>The uplift to Universal Credit was a temporary measure, that is why an assessment has not been completed on its withdrawal.</p><p> </p><p>This Government is wholly committed to supporting those on low incomes, and continues to do so through many measures. We expect to spend over £111 billion on welfare support for people of working age in 2021/22.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit recipients in work will soon benefit from a reduction in the Universal Credit taper rate from 63% to 55%, and increasing the work allowance by £500 per year means that 1.9m working households will be able to keep substantially more of what they earn. These changes represent an effective tax cut for low income working households in receipt of UC worth £2.2 billion a year in 2022-23, for the lowest paid in society, and are combined with a rise in the National Living Wage to £9.50 per hour.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that some people may require extra support over the winter as we enter the final stages of recovery, which is why vulnerable households across the country will now be able to access a new £500 million support fund to help them with essentials. The Household Support Fund will provide £421 million to help vulnerable people in England with the cost of food, utilities and wider essentials. The Barnett Formula will apply in the usual way, with the devolved administrations receiving almost £80 million (£41m for the Scottish Government, £25m for the Welsh Government and £14m for the NI Executive), for a total of £500 million.</p> answering member constituency Macclesfield answering member printed David Rutley question first answered 08/11/2021 17:47:47 answering member 4033 label Biography information for David Rutley
	tabling member	4138 label Biography information for Rushanara Ali

1183379

	registered interest
	date	09/03/2020
	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	What assessment her Department has made of the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on referrals to food banks.
	tabling member constituency	Coventry North West
	tabling member printed	Taiwo Owatemi
	uin	901400
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2020 answer text <p>The Department does not keep official statistics on food bank use, so no such assessment has been completed.</p><p> </p><p>There are many reasons people use food banks and their growth cannot be linked to a single cause.</p><p> </p><p>Some food aid providers produce statistics on the number of food parcels distributed, but the Government has no plans to require individual food banks to keep records, as this would place a significant burden on charitable organisations.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/03/2020 17:14:45 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4779 label Biography information for Taiwo Owatemi

1328882

	registered interest
	date	27/05/2021
	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, with reference to universal credit claimant feedback in the file entitled 54. I - Paper BTL02 – UC Claimants: In Their Own Words, reviewed by the Universal Credit Programme Board at its meeting on 21 March 2019, whether she plans to make an assessment of the potential merits of the provision of non-digital options for people to manage their universal credit claims.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	8533
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2021 answer text <p>For those claimants who are unable to access or use our digital services, there is already assistance available to make and maintain their Universal Credit claim using the Freephone Universal Credit helpline.</p><p> </p><p>Throughout the pandemic, Jobcentres have remained open for anyone who needed face-to-face support and could not be helped in any other way. Since 12 April 2021, Jobcentres in England and Wales have resumed full face to face services, returning to normal opening hours from 9am to 5pm. Jobcentres in Scotland have restarted the same full face to face service since 26 April 2021. All Jobcentre Plus offices across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 08/06/2021 16:07:16 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1328884

	registered interest
	date	27/05/2021
	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, with reference to universal credit claimant feedback entitled 54. I - Paper BTL02 – UC Claimants: In Their Own Words reviewed by the Universal Credit Programme Board at its meeting on 21 March 2019, whether she plans to make an assessment of the adequacy of universal credit for people unable to work due to their health condition or disability.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	8534
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2021 answer text <p>There is no objective way of deciding what an adequate level of benefit should be as every-one has different requirements. In addition to being eligible to claim non-means tested benefits, such as PIP and DLA, disabled people can receive Universal Credit to support them with their living costs. Couples, where one is working and one has limited capability for work or work related activity, may also be eligible to claim childcare costs. The Universal Credit rate for the most severely disabled people, the limited capability for work and work related activity (LCWRA) addition, is more than double the equivalent rate for the Employment and Support Allowance support group. Our upcoming Health and Disability Green Paper will explore how we can go even further to support disabled people and those with health conditions now and in the future.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 08/06/2021 15:58:27 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1328885

	registered interest
	date	27/05/2021
	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, with reference to universal claimant feedback entitled 54. I - Paper BTL02 – UC Claimants: In Their Own Words reviewed by the Universal Credit Programme Board at its meeting on 21 March 2019, whether she plans to review the process for Alternative Payment Arrangements to improve accessibility.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	8535
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2021 answer text <p>Alternative Payment Arrangements (APA) are available to support claimants who cannot manage their single monthly payment and where there is a risk of financial harm to the claimant and/or their family. These include more frequent payments. Staff involved in Universal Credit work closely with claimants and are able to assess which people need extra support, based on their personal circumstances. They will always consider an APA where a need has been identified by a Work Coach, case manager, or triggered by information received from the claimant, their representative or their landlord.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 10/06/2021 14:55:57 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1328886

	registered interest
	date	27/05/2021
	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, with reference to universal claimant feedback entitled 54. I - Paper BTL02 – UC Claimants: In Their Own Words reviewed by the Universal Credit Programme Board at its meeting on 21 March 2019, what steps she is planning to take to reduce the five-week wait for a first payment of universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Westminster North
	tabling member printed	Ms Karen Buck
	uin	8536
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 10/06/2021 answer text <p>Nobody has to wait for a payment in Universal Credit as urgent payments are available to ensure those who need it are able to receive financial support as soon as possible. Claimants can also receive up to 100% of their estimated Universal Credit award if required, resulting in 25 payments over a 24-month period.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 10/06/2021 15:04:40 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	199 label Biography information for Ms Karen Buck

1520002

	registered interest
	date	10/10/2022
	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 requirement that Universal Credit claimants applying for a Budgeting Advance must have earned less than a set income threshold in the past six months (a) for what reason that requirement was first put in place and (b) whether she plans to review that requirement in the context of the increases in the cost of living since 2013.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral West
	tabling member printed	Margaret Greenwood
	uin	59833
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/10/2022 answer text <p>Budgeting Advances are available to help meet intermittent miscellaneous expenses, such as buying essential items like furniture or household equipment advances and ensure that low-income families that have an emergency financial need and do not have access to adequate savings or affordable loans can access funding to meet the emergency.</p><p> </p><p>The earned income limit was put in place as those with income in the past 6 assessment periods could have the necessary means to help pay for these unexpected costs. The maximum advance provided to a claimant is also reduced pound for pound for any capital held in excess of £1,000.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 17/10/2022 16:37:12 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4400 label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood

1197016

	registered interest
	date	19/05/2020
	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 requirement for advanced payments under universal credit to be repaid to her Department, for what reason her Department does not treat those advanced payments as a loan for the purposes of departmental data publication.
	tabling member constituency	Bermondsey and Old Southwark
	tabling member printed	Neil Coyle
	uin	49018
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/06/2020 answer text <p>Accounting regulations would not allow us to treat UC Advances as loans as they are not loans and so are not recognised as loans.</p><p>Advances are a mechanism for getting claimants faster access to their entitlement; allowing claimants to receive 13 payments over 12 months with up to 12 months to repay the advance.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/06/2020 14:58:16 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince previous answer version 25091 answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
	tabling member	4368 label Biography information for Neil Coyle