Foster Carer\u2019s Allowance is disregarded in both Housing Benefit (HB) and Universal Credit (UC). The receipt of HB or Housing Element as part of their UC award does not adversely affect any other benefits that foster carers may receive.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4423", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Will Quince"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colchester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Will Quince"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-09-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-09-06T13:39:38.423Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-07-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Housing Benefit: Foster Care"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to ensure that the payment of housing benefit or the housing element of universal credit to foster carers does not adversely affect any other benefits they receive.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Frank Field"} ], "uin" : "284142"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1142871", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1142871/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying to this question. I can confirm that a response has now been issued.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4423", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Will Quince"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colchester"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Will Quince"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-09-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-09-06T13:41:55.85Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions: Written Questions"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to respond to Question 270706 on social security benefits, tabled by the hon. Member for Birkenhead on 27 June 2019.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birkenhead"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Frank Field"} ], "uin" : "284380"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1143137", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1143137/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Some homeowners in receipt of Universal Credit, along with other qualifying benefits, may be able to get help towards interest payments on their mortgage or loans taken out for certain repairs and improvements to their home. This help is called Support for Mortgage Interest (SMI). Assistance is paid as a loan normally paid direct to the lender, which needs to be repaid with interest when a home is sold or ownership is transferred.<\/p>
<\/p>
There were 450 households on Universal Credit on 13th June 2019 that were in receipt of SMI loan payments.<\/p>
<\/p>
Note:<\/strong><\/p> The amount of Universal Credit paid to claimants reflects, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period.<\/p> <\/p> Monthly assessment periods align to the way the majority of employees are paid and how utility companies and other service providers collect payments. This allows Universal Credit to be adjusted each month, which means that if a claimant\u2019s income falls they will not have to wait several months for a rise in their Universal Credit.<\/p> <\/p> The Department publishes a guide for claimants which tells them how Universal Credit works, including assessment periods.<\/p> https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/807855/uc-and-you-v16.pdf<\/a><\/p> <\/p> The Department also publishes more specific guidance for claimants about how different earning patterns affect Universal Credit.<\/p> https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles<\/a><\/p> <\/p> We continually review Universal Credit using feedback from claimants and stakeholders to inform further improvements to the service.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4423", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Will Quince"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Colchester"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Will Quince"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-09-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-09-06T10:10:50.973Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-09-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Universal Credit"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that universal credit claimants are aware of how assessment periods are calculated prior to application.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4488", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Martyn Day"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Linlithgow and East Falkirk"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Martyn Day"}
], "uin" : "284759"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1143587", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1143587/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Claimants may currently be entitled to a number of other benefits because they are in receipt of Universal Credit. These are known as passported benefits, which include free school meals and free prescriptions. The eligibility criteria for each passported benefit remain the responsibility of the Departments and Devolved Administrations that own them.<\/p> <\/p> Government Departments and Devolved Administrations continue to work closely together to look at how to reduce the complexity of the current passported benefits system and put in place arrangements for Universal Credit, as it expands, that will continue to target available support at those who need it most.<\/p> <\/p>