The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and is providing £26bn in cost-of-living support for 2023/24. This includes Cost of Living Payments for the most vulnerable. In addition, the Home office Tackling Domestic Abuse Plan invests over £230 million, including over £140 million to support victims.<\/p>
<\/p>
For those who require extra support, the Government is providing an additional £1 billion of funding, including Barnett impact, to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England in the next financial year. This is on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing total funding to £2.5 billion. In England this will be delivered through an extension to the Household Support Fund backed by £842 million, running from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, which local authorities use to help households with the cost of essentials. It will be for the devolved administrations to decide how to allocate their additional Barnett funding.<\/p>
<\/p>
DWP recognises the pressures and challenges that this group face, which is why we have made Discretionary Housing Payments available to allow LAs to provide financial help with rental costs. These are aimed at a number of groups likely to be affected by welfare reforms, including individuals or families fleeing domestic violence and abuse. Discretionary Housing Payments may also be given to victims that have remained in their home, which has been adapted under a sanctuary scheme.<\/p>
<\/p>
Jobcentres remain a safe place to share concerns and obtain advice and support for those impacted by domestic abuse.<\/p>
<\/p>
- Shared Accommodation Rate<\/strong><\/p> From 1 October 2022, up to 11,000 victims of domestic abuse and modern slavery on Universal Credit or Housing Benefit will be able to claim extra help towards their rental costs, as they will no longer be expected to share accommodation. These groups will be able to claim the higher one-bedroom rate of Local Housing Allowance. This is worth approximately £140 on average per month but the amount will vary depending on the area in which they live.<\/p> <\/p> - Benefit cap levels increase<\/strong><\/p> In April 2023, the government will also increase the benefit cap levels in line with inflation by 10.1%. The benefit cap levels will rise from £23,000 to £25,323 for families in Greater London and from £20,000 to £22,020 for families nationally. The levels for single households without children will rise from £15,410 to £16,967 in Greater London and from £13,400 to £14,753 nationally.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mims Davies"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Sussex"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mims Davies"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-12-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-12-19T14:52:27.627Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-12-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Cost of Living: Domestic Abuse"}
, "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 he will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing additional protections for survivors of domestic abuse during the cost-of-living crisis.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4657", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anneliese Dodds"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Oxford East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Anneliese Dodds"}
], "uin" : "110828"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1453567", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1453567/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department is fully committed to supporting parents moving into work. In Universal Credit, childcare costs can be claimed up to a month before starting a job. Eligible Universal Credit claimants can claim back up to 85 per cent of eligible childcare costs each month, up to the maximum amount of £646.35 per month for one child and £1,108.04 per month for two or more children, regardless of the number of hours they work.<\/p> <\/p> In cases where people need to pay for childcare upfront, prior to starting work, Work Coaches may be able to use the Flexible Support Fund for eligible claimants to meet these costs until their first wage is received. Budgeting advances are also available to eligible claimants who require help with upfront costs, for example when altering hours worked or changing childcare providers.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mims Davies"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Sussex"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mims Davies"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-04-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-04-01T13:36:39.947Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-03-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Flexible Support Fund: Parents"}
, "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 Work Coaches are routinely offering Flexible Support Fund payments to help parents who may face challenges in meeting all or part of the upfront costs of their childcare.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4657", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anneliese Dodds"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Oxford East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Anneliese Dodds"}
], "uin" : "145972"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1453570", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1453570/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Way to Work is a campaign to move job-ready claimants into work faster and fill vacancies more quickly. We are supporting jobseekers by providing new claimants with more time with their Work Coaches. Individual circumstances, such as childcare arrangements, are always taken into account and agreed with the claimants as part of the Claimant Commitment meeting. At that stage, Work Coaches will agree with the claimant what they are able to do with respect to finding and having a job as well as discussing eligibility for support through the Flexible Support Fund (FSF) and how this might suit their circumstances.<\/p> <\/p> The FSF is a non-recoverable discretionary fund that Jobcentre staff can use to purchase goods or services to supplement mainstream services and tailor support to the needs of individuals and the local area. Work Coaches have flexibility and discretion to make awards that will enhance the employment prospects of eligible claimants with whom they are engaged. A key element of Flexible Support Fund is giving Work Coaches a means by which they can support claimants move into work, such as paying for upfront childcare costs, travel costs to interviews and for clothing, tools and equipment needed to start work.<\/p> <\/p> No changes to the FSF or the policy around have been made as a result of the Way to Work Campaign.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mims Davies"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Sussex"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mims Davies"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2022-04-01", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2022-04-01T13:41:26.813Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2022-03-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Flexible Support Fund: Lone Parents"}
, "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 Flexible Support Fund payments are offered to single parents for the purposes of enabling them to meet the new job-seeking requirements in the Way to Work campaign.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4657", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anneliese Dodds"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Oxford East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Anneliese Dodds"}
], "uin" : "145973"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1174267", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1174267/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We are developing our understanding of how best to support people to progress in work, through a programme of research and testing. There is currently no active in-work support offer for in-work claimants in Universal Credit and no work related requirements, meaning there would be no sanctions resulting if these are not completed, and no guidance provided.<\/strong><\/p> Those who are earning very small amounts, below the level of the Administrative Earnings Threshold, are treated as out of work and placed in the intensive regime.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mims Davies"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Sussex"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mims Davies"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-02-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-02-03T17:40:59.767Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-29", "_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 guidance has been provided to (a) work coaches and (b) staff of her Department on measures to increase earnings for in-work claimants, including sanctioning for failure to increase earnings beyond the (i) the Administrative Earnings Threshold and (ii) Conditionality Earnings Threshold.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4657", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anneliese Dodds"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Oxford East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Anneliese Dodds"}
], "uin" : "9775"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1174268", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1174268/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Comprehensive guidance on assessing the Administrative Earnings Threshold and the Conditionality Earnings Threshold is available to all staff. This guidance is published in the Commons library and the Department is committed to refreshing this at regular intervals.<\/p> <\/p> http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0980/2._Administrative_and_Conditionality_Earnings_Thresholds_v3.0.pdf<\/a><\/p> <\/strong><\/p> http://data.parliament.uk/DepositedPapers/Files/DEP2019-0980/71._Labour_Market_regimes_v11.0.pdf<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4513", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mims Davies"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Mid Sussex"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mims Davies"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2020-02-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2020-02-03T17:39:12.87Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2020-01-29", "_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 guidance her Department has issued to (a) work coaches and (b) staff in her Department on assessing whether claimants are reaching (i) the Administrative Earnings Threshold and (ii) the Conditionality Earnings Threshold if the claimant is part of a cohabiting couple.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4657", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Anneliese Dodds"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Oxford East"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Anneliese Dodds"}
], "uin" : "9776"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1172555", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1172555/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.<\/p> <\/p> However, the member may find it useful to check the UC Sanction Rates tables published on the Stat-Xplore website at:<\/p>