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1725661

	registered interest
	date	30/08/2024
	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	Winter Fuel Payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of means-testing the winter fuel payment on those no longer eligible for that payment.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	3026
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2024 answer text <p>This Government is committed to pensioners – everyone in our society, no matter their working history or savings deserves a comfortable and dignified retirement.</p><p></p><p>Given the substantial pressures faced by the public finances this year and next, the government has had to make hard choices to bring the public finances back under control.</p><p></p><p>Winter Fuel Payments will continue to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits. They will continue to be worth £200 for eligible households, or £300 for eligible households with someone aged 80 and over.</p><p> </p><p>We know there are low-income pensioners who aren’t claiming Pension Credit, and we urge those people to apply. This will passport them to receive Winter Fuel Payment alongside other benefits – hundreds of pounds that could really help them. We will ensure that the poorest pensioners get the support they need.</p><p> </p><p>Over the next five years we expect over 12 million pensioners are likely to see their State Pensions increase by thousands of pounds as a result of our commitment to the Triple Lock. Protecting the Triple Lock even in the current economic climate shows our steadfast commitment to pensioners.</p><p> </p><p>We are also providing support through our Warm Homes Plan which pensioners will benefit from. This will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating – upgrading millions of homes over this Parliament. Our long-term plan will protect billpayers permanently, reduce fuel poverty, and get the UK back on track to meet our climate goals.</p><p> </p><p>The Household Support Fund is also being extended for a further 6 months, from 1 October 2024 until 31 March 2025.  An additional £500 million will be provided to enable the extension of the HSF, including funding for the Devolved Administrations through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion.</p><p> </p><p></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Emma Reynolds question first answered 09/09/2024 15:02:39 answering member 4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1725662

	registered interest
	date	30/08/2024
	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	Pension Credit: Take-up
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to increase the take-up of pension credit.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	3027
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/09/2024 answer text <p>The Government is determined to ensure that the poorest pensioners get the support they need.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the current Pension Credit Week of Action, we have joined forces with national charities, broadcasters and local authorities to encourage pensioners to check their eligibility and make a claim.</p><p> </p><p>From 16 September, we will be running a national marketing campaign on a range of channels. The campaign will target potential pension-age customers, as well as friends and family who can encourage and support them to apply.</p><p> </p><p>Our future campaign messaging will also focus on encouraging pensioners to apply for Pension Credit before the 21 December 2024, which is the last date for making a successful backdated claim for Pension Credit in order to receive a Winter Fuel Payment.</p><p> </p><p>We will work with external partners, local authorities and the Devolved Governments to boost the take-up of Pension Credit.</p> answering member constituency Wycombe answering member printed Emma Reynolds grouped question UIN 3146 3894 question first answered 05/09/2024 15:37:40 answering member 4077 label Biography information for Emma Reynolds
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1725681

	registered interest
	date	30/08/2024
	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	Department for Work and Pensions: Redundancy Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to her Department was of ministerial severance payments in each year from 19 December 2019 to 30 May 2024; which Ministers received a severance payment; and how much each Minister received.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	3037
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/09/2024 answer text <p>The details of severance payments made to former ministers can be found in our Annual Report &amp; Accounts.</p><p>Information for the 2024/25 financial year will be published in due course.</p> answering member constituency Stretford and Urmston answering member printed Andrew Western question first answered 09/09/2024 14:55:11 answering member 4979 label Biography information for Andrew Western
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1696454

	registered interest
	date	15/03/2024
	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: Rents
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that social housing tenants who receive Universal Credit are not financially affected by the 53-week rent year in the 2024-25 financial year.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	18923
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/03/2024 answer text <p>In the financial year 2024-25 social housing tenants will face 52 weekly rent payment days so Universal Credit will make provision for the exact amount of their liability.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit always converts weekly amounts to monthly sums using 52 weeks. This may lead to a slight advantage to the claimant when converting weekly incomes and to a slight disadvantage when dealing with outgoings. The system is used because it is simple to operate and understand. The department has considered alternative options for those with weekly tenancies, but each have their own limitations and disadvantages for claimants and so there are no plans to change.</p><p> </p><p>The legitimacy of this calculation formula in Universal Credit was confirmed by the High Court in 2020 who found it to be neither irrational or discriminatory.</p><p> </p><p>Discretionary Housing Payments can be paid to those entitled to Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs. Since 2011, the government has provided nearly £1.7 billion in Discretionary Housing Payments to local authorities.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 25/03/2024 12:10:36 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1656531

	registered interest
	date	01/09/2023
	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	Refugees: Ukraine
	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 adequacy of current guidance for Job Centre staff on assessing the education status of Ukrainian refugees.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	196355
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/09/2023 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions has provided immediate access to Universal Credit, and jobs support, for those arriving in the UK from Ukraine because of the Russian invasion; individuals must still meet the eligibility criteria, in order to receive Universal Credit and other Social Security benefits.<strong><em>   </em></strong></p><p> </p><p>There are some exceptions where students may be eligible for Universal Credit such as where they are responsible for a child or are enrolled on a part time course and are seeking employment.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 11/09/2023 13:25:43 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1606350

	registered interest
	date	22/03/2023
	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	Personal Independence Payment
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to take steps to improve the application process for Personal Independence Payments.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	171508
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/03/2023 answer text <p>The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application process is kept under continual review to ensure it meets the needs of claimants and helps the department reach an accurate assessment of an individual’s entitlement. Since PIP was introduced, we have introduced a range of accessibility improvements such as the Video Relay Service and Relay UK, improved the clarity of the PIP2 questionnaire to make it easier to complete, expanded the assessment methods to include video and telephone, and introduced recording by request for telephone and face-to-face appointments. Claimants are also kept informed and updated at each stage of the application process, including through our improved text message service.</p><p> </p><p>Alongside this, the Health Transformation Programme is transforming the entire PIP service which will reduce the time it will take to process a claim and create a vastly improved claimant experience and a more efficient service for the taxpayer. We will introduce an option to apply for PIP online, giving claimants a greater choice in how they interact with the DWP and the ability to save, resume and upload medical evidence. We are currently operating a small-scale test of the new online apply service, taking a small number of claims to begin with before we gradually and carefully increase the number of people using the service. This approach allows us to develop, test and evaluate the service, exploring and making improvements as we gradually increase its availability. We are also exploring options to re-use evidence we currently hold, removing the need for claimants to upload or re-submit it, and we are reviewing what evidence is relevant to a decision, to enable more accurate data gather and decision making.</p><p> </p><p>We published Transforming Support: The Health and Disability White Paper on 15 March 2023 (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-support-the-health-and-disability-white-paper" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transforming-support-the-health-and-disability-white-paper</a>). The White Paper responds to feedback from The Health and Disability Green Paper consultation and sets out proposals to support more disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work, as well as to improve the overall experience of, and trust in, the benefits system. We will continue to work with disabled people, people with health conditions and their representatives, to reach the important goals set out in the White Paper.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 28/03/2023 12:07:27 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1541912

	registered interest
	date	14/11/2022
	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	Maternity Allowance: Data Protection
	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 note on his Department's website, dated 17 October 2022, on the loss of Maternity Allowance statistics for May 2022, for what reason this data was lost; and whether his Department (a) has received and (b) expects to receive financial compensation for the data loss.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	86556
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/11/2022 answer text <p>The 5% Maternity Allowance data scan for May 2022 has not been produced following an administrative error by data suppliers in the scheduling of the run of the data. The scan containing MA data was run a month ahead of schedule and therefore reflected an incomplete count.</p><p>Since discovery, suppliers have implemented safeguards to prevent a reoccurrence.</p><p>Data for the next data point, August 2022, were created successfully using the new safeguards and will be released at 9:30 on 14 February 2023.</p><p>Provision of this data is core funded with an internal Service Level Agreement with no financial compensation in the agreement. Therefore, no compensation is expected.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 22/11/2022 15:53:12 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1519031

	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: Employment
	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 Growth Plan 2022, published in September 2022, if she will make an estimate of the number of people on Universal Credit who will be placed in the Intensive Work Search regime following the increase in the Administration Earnings Threshold announced in that plan by (a) constituency, (b) region and (c) nation.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	59194
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2022 answer text <p>DWP forecasts that approximately 120,000 claimants will be affected by increase in the Administrative Earnings Threshold planned from January 2023. The information is not held in the format requested. The forecasts indicate that there is not a significant geographical variation in the number of claimants that will move into the Intensive Work Search Regime as a result of the planned changes.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 18/10/2022 15:49:27 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1519266

	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	Local Housing Allowance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the calculation of Local Housing Allowance rates applicable in financial year 2022-23.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	59968
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/10/2022 answer text <p>Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates are not intended to cover all rents in all areas.<em> </em>For Great Britain in May 2022, 55% of the households on LHA had rents higher than the LHA rates. For these households the average gap was £146 per month.</p><p> </p><p>In April 2020 LHA rates were increased to the 30th percentile of local rents. This significant investment of nearly £1 billion provided 1.5 million claimants with an average £600 more housing support in 2020/21 than they would otherwise have received.</p><p> </p><p>LHA rates have been maintained at their increased levels since then, so that everyone who benefitted from the increase will continue to do so.</p><p> </p><p>For those who require additional support with housing costs, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) are available. Since 2011 we have provided almost over £1.5 billion in DHPs.</p> answering member constituency Brentwood and Ongar answering member printed Alex Burghart question first answered 18/10/2022 13:24:00 answering member 4613 label Biography information for Alex Burghart
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse

1488777

	registered interest
	date	13/07/2022
	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	Maternity Pay
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of increasing statutory maternity pay in line with (a) inflation and (b) the cost of living.
	tabling member constituency	Bath
	tabling member printed	Wera Hobhouse
	uin	36052
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/07/2022 answer text <p>The standard rate of statutory maternity pay (SMP) is reviewed annually, alongside state benefits, and is generally increased in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). From April 2022 the standard rate of SMP increased to £156.66, in line with the September 2021 CPI rate of 3.1%.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 21/07/2022 13:44:11 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4602 label Biography information for Wera Hobhouse