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<p>Hardship Payments may be available to claimants who have been sanctioned. We strengthened
guidance for work coaches in July 2014 and sped up the payment process so that all
sanctioned claimants are informed about how and when they can make an application
for a Hardship Payment and can receive payment swiftly. We plan to publish statistical
information on Hardship Payments in Summer 2015.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>Short
Term Benefit Advances (STBAs) replaced Crisis Loan Alignment Payments and Interim
Payments of benefit in April 2013.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>There has been an
increase in the number of Jobseekers Allowance claims being cleared within 10 days
of 19.4 percentage points, from 70.8% in March 2010 to 90.2% in March 2014. Most benefits
are paid in arrears and STBAs can help tide over claimants who qualify until their
first benefit payment. This is not the same as “benefit delays” and, therefore, we
do not collect such data.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>As the Secretary of State
announced in his oral answer (Official Report, 8 December 2014, column 633), more
information will be provided to claimants about STBAs online and in Jobcentres. And
staff guidance will be updated and staff reminded of the process for considering an
STBA.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p>The department has already undertaken testing
of the posters and messaging with a small number of staff and claimants and the designs
have now been reviewed by the Social Security Advisory Committee.</p><p> </p>
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