In October this year, the Work and Pensions Select Committee set out recommendations relating to the economic and health effects of sanctions, which the Department is considering and will be responding to in due course.<\/p>
<\/p>
Sanctions are only used in a small percentage of cases, and that is when people fail to meet their agreed commitments without good reason. Latest data, published 12 November in the Benefit Sanction Statistics, shows that in August 2018, 2.9% of people subject to conditionality on Universal Credit had a deduction taken from their benefit award as a result of a sanction.<\/p>
<\/p>
When considering whether a sanction is appropriate, a Decision Maker will take all the claimant\u2019s individual circumstances, including any health conditions or disabilities and any evidence of good cause, into account before deciding whether a sanction is warranted.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-10T18:03:54.313Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Security Benefits: Disqualification"} , "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, pursuant to the Answer of 28 November 2018 to Question 193447 on Social Security Benefits: Disqualification, if she will review the (a) purpose, (b) merits and (c) economic and health effects of sanctioning social security claimants in receipt of universal credit.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/3973", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Grahame Morris"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Easington"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Grahame Morris"} ], "uin" : "198808"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1020011", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1020011/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The department does not have contracts with external companies to train staff who are delivering Universal Credit.<\/p>
<\/p>
Work Coaches and other staff delivering Universal Credit undergo comprehensive training designed to equip them with the tools, skills and behaviours required to provide a high quality service to all claimants. Specific training and guidance is provided for working with different vulnerable groups and those with complex needs.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-10T17:58:33.313Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions: Training"} , "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, whether her Department has contracts with external companies to train Departmental staff delivering the Universal Credit programme.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4400", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Margaret Greenwood"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wirral West"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Margaret Greenwood"} ], "uin" : "198859"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1019436", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1019436/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
When fully rolled out, Universal Credit will support households with around £62 billion a year across the whole of Great Britain. In addition, Universal Credit covers up to 85% of childcare costs, up from 70% in the old system.<\/p>
<\/p>
The Department has made no assessment specifically in Jarrow, South Tyneside or the North East specifically. However, we continue to evaluate progress as we roll out Universal Credit nationally in a careful and co-ordinated way, reviewing against key measures, to ensure safe and secure delivery.<\/p>
<\/p>
Work is the best route out of poverty, and Universal Credit is designed to strengthen incentives to move into and progress in work.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-11T18:02:02.407Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Universal Credit: North East"} , "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 recent assessment the Government has made of the effect on low-income families of the roll-out of universal credit in (a) Jarrow constituency, (b) South Tyneside and (c) the North East.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/520", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Stephen Hepburn"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Jarrow"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Stephen Hepburn"} ], "uin" : "198224"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1019442", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1019442/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department publishes statistics on the total number of households in receipt of limited capability work entitlement \u2013 either the limited capability for work element or the limited capability for work and work related activity element. This information is available via Stat-Xplore: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/<\/a><\/p> <\/p> Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html<\/a><\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-12-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-12-11T17:58:55.603Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-12-03", "_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, how many people in receipt of universal credit are in receipt of the additional amount payable for limited capability for work and work-related activity.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1397", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Hywel Williams"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Arfon"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Hywel Williams"}
], "uin" : "198228"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1019493", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1019493/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The nationality and immigration status of claimants is not currently recorded on benefit payment systems.<\/p> <\/p> However, the Department has published statistics relating to access to income-related benefits for EEA and non-EEA migrants in the ad hoc publication \u201cAnalysis of migrants\u2019 access to income-related benefits\u201d, published last year and available at:<\/p> <\/p>