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1127966
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-05-21more like thisremove minimum value filter
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
unstar this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit more like this
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of universal credit claims that had a deduction applied had (a) up to 20 per cent, (b) between 21 and 30 per cent, (c) between 31 and 40 per cent and (d) more than 41 per cent deducted in the latest period for which data is available. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency High Peak more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Ruth George remove filter
star this property uin 257147 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-06-04more like thismore than 2019-06-04
star this property answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of safeguarding the welfare of claimants who have incurred debt. Universal Credit already has procedures and regulations in place to protect claimants from excessive deductions. The maximum rate of deductions cannot normally exceed 40 per cent of the Universal Credit standard allowance, and from October 2019 this will be reduced to 30 per cent.</p><p> </p><p>However, last resort deductions can be applied to protect vulnerable claimants from eviction and/or having their fuel supply (gas/electricity) cut off, by providing a last resort repayment method for arrears of these essential services. In these circumstances, when it is considered to be in the best interests of the claimant and their family, deductions may be taken above the 40 per cent limit.</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>Of all eligible claims to Universal Credit Full Service due a payment in Feb 2019, 57% (840,000 claims) had a deduction.</p><p> </p><p>Of this 840,000 claims with a deduction:</p><p>a) 50% (420,000 claims) had deductions up to 20% of the Standard Allowance (29% of all eligible claims).</p><p>b) 20% (170,000 claims) had deductions between 21% and 30% of the Standard Allowance (12% of all eligible claims).</p><p>c) 28% (238,000 claims) had deductions between 31% and 40% of their Standard Allowance (16% of all eligible claims).</p><p>d) 1% (13,000 claims) had deductions above 40% of their Standard Allowance (1% of all eligible claims).</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p>Claim numbers may not match official statistics caseloads due to small methodological differences.</p><p>Claim numbers are rounded to the nearest 1,000</p><p>When categorising claims into the groups above the figures for the percentage of the Standard Allowance for individual claims have been rounded to the nearest percent.</p><p>Deductions include advance repayments and all other deductions, but exclude sanctions and fraud penalties which are reductions of benefit rather than deductions.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p />
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-04T15:57:14.557Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-04T15:57:14.557Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4662
unstar this property label Biography information for Ruth George more like this
1127967
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-05-21more like thisremove minimum value filter
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
unstar this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit more like this
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to introduce an affordability test for deductions taken from universal credit payments. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency High Peak more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Ruth George remove filter
star this property uin 257148 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-06-04more like thismore than 2019-06-04
star this property answer text <p>I refer the Hon. Member to the answer to Question 218205 answered on 7 February 2018.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-04T15:33:51.543Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-04T15:33:51.543Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4662
unstar this property label Biography information for Ruth George more like this
1128212
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-05-22more like thismore than 2019-05-22
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
unstar this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit more like this
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have had their deductions under universal credit reduced from the maximum rate of 40 per cent of an individual's standard allowance in the last (a) month and (b) 12 months. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency High Peak more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Ruth George remove filter
star this property uin 257510 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-06-10more like thismore than 2019-06-10
star this property answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises the importance of safeguarding the welfare of claimants who have incurred debt. Universal Credit already has procedures and regulations in place to protect claimants from excessive deductions. The maximum rate of deductions cannot normally exceed 40 per cent of the Universal Credit standard allowance, and from October 2019 this will be reduced to 30 per cent.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-10T14:52:01.35Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-10T14:52:01.35Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4662
unstar this property label Biography information for Ruth George more like this
1128213
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-05-22more like thismore than 2019-05-22
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
unstar this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit more like this
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have had deductions under universal credit paused; and what the average length of the pause was in the last (a) month and (b) 12 months. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency High Peak more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Ruth George remove filter
star this property uin 257511 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-06-06more like thismore than 2019-06-06
star this property answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-06T17:06:52.84Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-06T17:06:52.84Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4662
unstar this property label Biography information for Ruth George more like this
1128214
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-05-22more like thismore than 2019-05-22
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
unstar this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit more like this
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with underlying debts resulting in deductions under universal credit had those debts written off in the last (a) month and (b) 12 months. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency High Peak more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Ruth George remove filter
star this property uin 257512 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-06-06more like thismore than 2019-06-06
star this property answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-06T17:12:20.003Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-06T17:12:20.003Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4662
unstar this property label Biography information for Ruth George more like this
1128341
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-05-22more like thismore than 2019-05-22
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
unstar this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit: Overpayments more like this
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, (a) how many and (b) what percentage of universal credit claimants had funds deducted for a universal credit overpayment in the most recent month for which data is available. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency High Peak more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Ruth George remove filter
star this property uin 257575 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-06-10more like thismore than 2019-06-10
star this property answer text <p>Internal Management information shows that in April 2019, 80,000 payments of Universal Credit (UC) had a deduction applied to repay a UC overpayment (this figure does not include UC Advances and has been rounded to the nearest 10,000).</p><p> </p><p>It is not possible to show this figure as a percentage as the latest UC caseload data is only available as of 14<sup>th</sup> February 19. However, for context as of 14<sup>th</sup> February 19, 1.4m households received payments of UC.</p><p /><p>The Department ensures that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect claimants who have deductions from their benefit to repay overpayments. There are maximum rates of deduction that are set out in legislation, and if a claimant is struggling they can contact the Department’s Debt Management Team to discuss lowering their repayment rate.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-10T15:03:56.973Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-10T15:03:56.973Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4662
unstar this property label Biography information for Ruth George more like this
1128342
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-05-22more like thismore than 2019-05-22
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
unstar this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit more like this
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 18 February 2019 to Question 218205 on Universal Credit, which regulations referred to in that Answer protect claimants from excessive deductions. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency High Peak more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Ruth George remove filter
star this property uin 257576 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-06-10more like thismore than 2019-06-10
star this property answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of safeguarding the welfare of claimants who have incurred debt. Under Universal Credit there is a structured approach to deductions from benefit, which simplifies the current complex arrangements. Claimants can view their Universal credit statement online and easily understand both how their award is calculated and what debts are being repaid, supporting them to manage their financial obligations.</p><p> </p><p>The aim of the deductions policy in Universal Credit is to protect vulnerable claimants by providing a last resort repayment method for arrears of essential services. The policy also enables social obligations to be enforced when other repayment methods have failed, or are not cost effective, and ensures that benefit debt is recovered in a cost effective manner.</p><p> </p><p>Regulations protect claimants from excessive deductions, which could lead to financial difficulty.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit is made up of a standard allowance plus any additional elements that apply, for example a housing element or child element. The overall maximum amount that can be deducted for debt repayments from a claimant’s Universal Credit each month is an amount equal to 40 per cent of their Universal Credit standard allowance.</p><p> </p><p>Where requested deductions exceed the 40 per cent maximum, or there is insufficient Universal Credit in payment for all deductions to be made, a priority order is applied, which determines the order in which items should be deducted. ‘Last resort’ deductions, such as rent or fuel costs, are at the top of the priority order, ensuring that claimant welfare is prioritised, followed by social obligation deductions, such as fines and child maintenance, and finally benefit debt, such as Social Fund loans and benefit overpayments.</p><p> </p><p>There are two exceptions to the overall maximum deduction rate. The first is deductions for current consumption of gas, electricity and water, which do not count towards the overall maximum amount. The second is where a Conditionality Sanction or Fraud Penalty is being applied or an Advance is being recovered, ‘last resort deductions’ (that is arrears of rent, service charges, gas or electricity) continue to be taken, even if it means that more than 40 per cent is deducted. This is to protect vulnerable claimants from being made homeless or having their fuel disconnected.</p><p> </p><p>The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013(S.I, 2013/380) and specifically Regulation 60 and Schedule 6, paragraph 4 explains how claimants are protected from excessive deductions. These regulations are available at <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/380/contents/made" target="_blank">http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2013/380/contents/made</a>.</p><p> </p>
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-10T11:23:39.323Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-10T11:23:39.323Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4662
unstar this property label Biography information for Ruth George more like this
1130991
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-06-10more like thismore than 2019-06-10
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
unstar this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Personal Independence Payment: Appeals more like this
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of people whose personal independence payment has (a) increased, (b) decreased, (c) reduced to zero and (d) stayed the same as a result of an appeal decision in each of the last five years. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency High Peak more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Ruth George remove filter
star this property uin 262439 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-06-13more like thismore than 2019-06-13
star this property answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> more like this
star this property answering member constituency North Swindon more like this
star this property answering member printed Justin Tomlinson more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-13T12:24:10.687Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-13T12:24:10.687Z
star this property answering member
4105
star this property label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson more like this
star this property tabling member
4662
unstar this property label Biography information for Ruth George more like this
1132493
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-06-17more like thismore than 2019-06-17
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
unstar this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit: Payment Methods more like this
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of universal credit received payments into a Post Office Card Account in each of the last 12 months. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency High Peak more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Ruth George remove filter
star this property uin 265586 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer less than 2019-06-20more like thismore than 2019-06-20
star this property answer text <p>The Department’s standard method of payment for pensions and benefits is into a bank, building society or credit union account. For claimants who cannot open one of these accounts, or provide the details for their own account to access their payment, the Department can offer two alternatives: The Post Office Card Account and HM Government Payment Exception Service, both of which guarantee access to their payment of pension and or benefit.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has been contacting claimants using Post Office Card Accounts since September 2015 offering information to claimants to move to standard payment methods.</p><p> </p><p>As a claimant may receive more than one payment of Universal Credit in each month, we have supplied the total volume of Universal Credit payments made into Post Office Card Accounts in each of the last 12 months in the table below. Increasing volumes of Universal Credit payments into these types of account reflect those naturally migrating from legacy benefits and taking their payment method with them.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Month</p></td><td><p>Payments Made</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>June 2018</p></td><td><p>10,322</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>July 2018</p></td><td><p>9,699</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>August 2018</p></td><td><p>10,686</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>September 2018</p></td><td><p>10,494</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>October 2018</p></td><td><p>10,302</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>November 2018</p></td><td><p>12,160</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>December 2018</p></td><td><p>12,649</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>January 2019</p></td><td><p>12,571</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>February 2019</p></td><td><p>13,807</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>March 2019</p></td><td><p>14,209</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>April 2019</p></td><td><p>14,377</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May 2019</p></td><td><p>15,724</p></td></tr></tbody></table>
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-06-20T14:50:39.043Zmore like thismore than 2019-06-20T14:50:39.043Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4662
unstar this property label Biography information for Ruth George more like this
1134522
unstar this property registered interest false more like this
star this property date less than 2019-06-25more like thismore than 2019-06-25
star this property answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
star this property answering dept id 29 more like this
star this property answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
unstar this property answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
star this property hansard heading Universal Credit more like this
star this property house id 1 more like this
star this property legislature
25259
star this property pref label House of Commons more like this
star this property question text To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many civil penalties relating to failure to undertake tasks required for universal credit compliance have been issued in each of the last 12 months. more like this
star this property tabling member constituency High Peak more like this
star this property tabling member printed
Ruth George remove filter
star this property uin 269119 more like this
star this property answer
answer
unstar this property is ministerial correction false more like this
star this property date of answer remove maximum value filtermore like thismore than 2019-07-03
star this property answer text <p>A £50 Civil Penalty may be imposed by both Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Local Authorities where an individual incurs a recoverable overpayment as a result of failing to provide accurate information as part of their benefit claim or in connection with an award of benefit, and has not taken reasonable steps to correct the error.</p><p> </p><p>The table below shows the volume of Civil Penalties applied to UC Overpayments in the last 12 months along with the value of recoveries in the last 12 months where a Civil Penalty was imposed on a UC debt. *</p><p> </p><p>Note that there is no correlation between the number applied and the value of recovery for the associated month. Civil Penalties issued in a 12-month period will not necessarily be recovered in that same 12-month period as debts will be repaid over different timeframes, in accordance with a debtor’s particular commitments.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Month</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number applied to UC overpayment </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Value of </strong> <strong>Recovery </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jun-18</strong></p></td><td><p>140</p></td><td><p>£4,300</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jul-18</strong></p></td><td><p>120</p></td><td><p>£4,700</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Aug-18</strong></p></td><td><p>190</p></td><td><p>£8,100</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Sep-18</strong></p></td><td><p>130</p></td><td><p>£5,800</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Oct-18</strong></p></td><td><p>80</p></td><td><p>£8,600</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Nov-18</strong></p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>£5,700</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Dec-18</strong></p></td><td><p>Fewer than 5</p></td><td><p>£5,400</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jan-19</strong></p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>£4,800</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Feb-19</strong></p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>£3,700</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Mar-19</strong></p></td><td><p>20</p></td><td><p>£3,800</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Apr-19</strong></p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>£2,300</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>May-19</strong></p></td><td><p>10</p></td><td><p>£1,600</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>When recovering overpayments, DWP ensures that appropriate safeguards are in place to protect claimants from any undue financial hardship. Like the Department, private collection agencies will look to establish sustainable repayment arrangements.</p><p> </p><p><em>*The data provided in this response has been sourced from internal management information and was not intended for public release. It should therefore not be compared to any other, similar data subsequently released by the Department. All figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. </em></p>
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property grouped question UIN 269120 more like this
star this property question first answered
less than 2019-07-03T15:34:36.197Zmore like thismore than 2019-07-03T15:34:36.197Z
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property previous answer version
126281
star this property answering member constituency Reading West more like this
star this property answering member printed Alok Sharma more like this
star this property answering member
4014
star this property label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma more like this
star this property tabling member
4662
unstar this property label Biography information for Ruth George more like this