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170138

	registered interest
	date	12/12/2014
	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, pursuant to his Answer of 8 December 2014 to Question 217129, in what circumstances universal credit claimants will be permitted to undertake paid work which is regarded as therapeutic.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	218585
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p> </p><p>Universal Credit replaces the complex ‘Permitted Work’ rules that apply to ESA with clear work incentives for disabled people through generous work allowances and a single taper. The Limited Capability for Work (LCW) and Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) elements - entitlement to which is based on the outcome of a Work Capability Assessment - are available to claimants both in and out of work, further strengthening the incentives for disabled people to move into work.</p><p> </p><p>These measures reflect the Government's strong commitment to help more disabled people into work, and employment now stands at a record level.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 17/12/2014 17:48:34 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

171226

	registered interest
	date	17/12/2014
	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 people who claimed universal credit up to 13 November 2014 have not accepted the terms of their claimant commitment.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	219155
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p /> <p>25,890 people have claimed Universal Credit up to 13 November 2014. All of these people have attended an initial interview and accepted the terms of their claimant commitment.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 05/01/2015 17:35:20 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

167853

	registered interest
	date	03/12/2014
	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	Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in what circumstances benefit claimants are permitted to undertake paid work which is regarded as therapeutic.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	217129
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>A person who is entitled to Employment and Support Allowance and who does any work will normally be treated as not having limited capability for work and will lose their entitlement accordingly. However, under existing provisions, there are types of work that a claimant can do without losing their benefit entitlement.</p><p> </p><p>This is called ‘exempt work’ (more commonly referred to as ‘permitted work’). <br> The categories of exempt work are Permitted Work; Voluntary Work and work done in a Work Placement. There are four types of permitted work.</p><p> </p><p>· Permitted Work Lower Level: work for no more than £20 a week at any time for as long as the person is on benefit;<br> <br></p><p>· Permitted Work Higher Level: work for less than 16 hours a week with earnings of no more than £104.00 a week for a fixed period of 52 weeks with the aim of progressing to work of more than 16 hours per week; <br> <br></p><p>· Permitted Work Higher Level Subsequent: at the end of the 52 week period of PWHL, if they have not progressed to work of more than 16 hours, claimants can continue to work for no more than £20 per week. After a gap of 52 weeks customers can undertake a subsequent period of 52 weeks at the higher level;<br> <br></p><p>· Supported Permitted Work: claimants can work for no more than £104.00 a week for as long as they are on benefit if they have a disability which is unlikely to improve over time and they need regular and on going support or supervision in the work place in order to make as much progress as they can towards full-time work. A person is able to work and earn up to and including £104.00 a week indefinitely where their work is supervised by someone who is employed by a public or local authority, or a voluntary organisation whose job it is to arrange work for people with disabilities.</p><p> </p><p>A person can only do one type of Permitted Work at any one time and there are rules which cover the length of time that claimants may undertake each category, and the amount they can earn.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 08/12/2014 12:24:20 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

169620

	registered interest
	date	10/12/2014
	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	Housing Benefit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 5 December 2014 to Question 216814, whether he plans to implement a further IT solution to ensure that local authorities have the information needed to suspend housing benefit only in cases where it is so appropriate.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	218199
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>As reported in my last statement, the current system is working to specification; but we will continue to monitor the situation and take appropriate action if required.</p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 15/12/2014 16:20:02 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

170790

	registered interest
	date	16/12/2014
	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	Housing Benefit
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what safeguards are in place to ensure that a person who loses their employment and support allowance as a result of a sanction will not also lose their housing benefit because of a misunderstanding by the local authority.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	218957
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Following Matthew Oakley’s report we have implemented a number of improvements to communications to ensure that claimants understand the sanctions process and can take the necessary action.</p><p>An investigation of housing benefit with local authorities showed that the IT solution is working to specification and correct notifications are being sent. As a safeguard we have also improved guidance to ensure that staff advise all claimants, when sanctioned, to inform their local authority so that their housing benefit is not inadvertently stopped.</p><p>We will continue to monitor the position in cooperation with local authorities.</p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 05/01/2015 16:30:58 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

170793

	registered interest
	date	16/12/2014
	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	Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department plans to take to make benefit claimants aware of (a) short-term benefit advances and (b) hardship payments.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	218961
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p /> <p>I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the oral answer given to him by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Official Report, 8 December 2014, column 633. The Secretary of State set out how the department will be doing more to raise awareness of Short Term Benefit Advances (STBAs). This will include providing more information to claimants about STBAs online and in Jobcentres. Staff guidance on STBAs will also be updated and staff reminded of the process for considering an STBA.</p><p>The department has already made improvements to the hardship process. In July 2014 we strengthened guidance for work coaches so that all claimants are informed about how and when they can make an application for hardship payment and processing times have also been improved.</p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 05/01/2015 14:00:16 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

167864

	registered interest
	date	03/12/2014
	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	Jobseeker's Allowance
	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 Government's commitment in its response to the Oakley Review, Cm 8904, to strengthen guidance so that hardship provision is clear upfront to all claimants who are sanctioned, what progress has been made in strengthening such guidance; and whether the planned implementation date of August 2014 was achieved.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	216998
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>In response to the recommendation we implemented improvements to the hardship process in July 2014 which includes strengthened guidance for work coaches. All claimants will be informed about how and when they can make an application for hardship payment following a conditionality doubt.</p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 08/12/2014 17:23:58 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

170792

	registered interest
	date	16/12/2014
	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	Work Programme: Lone Parents
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many lone parents were referred to the Work Programme between June 2011 and June 2014; and how many such parents achieved a sustained job outcome.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	218962
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p /> <p>Information in relation to the Work Programme referrals and job outcomes by lone parent status, up to June 2014, is published and can be found at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/WorkProg/tabtool.html" target="_blank">http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/WorkProg/tabtool.html</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for users is available at:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance</a></p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 05/01/2015 13:42:34 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

170791

	registered interest
	date	16/12/2014
	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	Social Security Benefits
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the reasons for the difference in the number of short-term benefit allowance payments in 2013-14 and the number of crisis loan alignment payments in each of the previous six years.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	218964
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/01/2015 answer text <p /> <p>It is not possible to compare the number of Short Term Benefit Advance (STBA) payments with the number of Crisis Loan alignment payments as there are a number of key differences in the respective rules and processes.</p> answering member constituency Wirral West answering member printed Esther McVey question first answered 05/01/2015 13:42:09 answering member 4084 label Biography information for Esther McVey
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

170140

	registered interest
	date	12/12/2014
	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	Access to Work Programme
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason self-employed people are not eligible for Access to Work support.
	tabling member constituency	East Ham
	tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
	uin	218582
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/12/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Self-employed people are eligible for Access to Work support.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 17/12/2014 13:21:02 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
	tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms