It is not clear whether the questions relate to the Local Authority as the provider of housing or as the administrator of Housing Benefit and Council Tax. This answer therefore responds on both counts.<\/p>
<\/p>
Local Authority as landlord:<\/strong><\/p> <\/p> The Local Authority use the \u2018Landlord Portal\u2019 to provide details of a claimant\u2019s rent and tenancy details. When the information provided does not match what the claimant has given, the claimant will then be able to accept or reject the information uploaded by the Local Authority by logging into their Universal Credit account.<\/p> <\/p> If the claimant accepts the information provided by the Local Authority no further action is required. If the Local Authority has provided information that is rejected by the claimant, the claimant is advised to make contact to resolve this. This could require a subsequent housing declaration to be provided. The \u2018Landlord Portal\u2019 has a summary screen that allows the Local Authority to confirm or change the information they are about to provide before it has been submitted.<\/p> <\/p> This process applies whenever there is a rent change, including annual uprating of rent. The Landlord Portal is the streamlined communication tool which allows the Local Authority to disclose the rent thus highlighting errors in the claimants Universal Credit.<\/p> <\/p> Local Authority as administrator of Housing Benefit and Council Tax:<\/strong><\/p> <\/p> Once a claim to Universal Credit has been made, the Local Authority will receive a notification if the claimant is in receipt of Housing Benefit. This will inform the Local Authority of the claim to Universal Credit so they can take the action to close the Housing Benefit claim where needed. The Local Authority will inform Universal Credit of the action they have taken and if there is any payment to be offset within the first assessment period.<\/p> <\/p> Additionally, during the Universal Credit claim process, the claimant will be asked if their name is on the council tax bill. If the claimant answers \u2018yes\u2019, they are asked if they have applied for a reduction in their council tax. If the claimant answers that they have applied or will apply for a Council Tax Reduction, their details will be shared with the Local Authority. This is a one-way communication which allows for the Local Authority to take the appropriate action regarding an application for a Council Tax Reduction.<\/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" : "2019-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "254088"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1126537/answer/previousversion/119078", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-03T13:09:40.307Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-05-14", "_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 response her Department makes when notified by a local authority of an error in a resident\u2019s universal credit calculation.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/163", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Ham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Timms"}
], "uin" : "254086"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1126539", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1126539/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " It is not clear whether the questions relate to the Local Authority as the provider of housing or as the administrator of Housing Benefit and Council Tax. This answer therefore responds on both counts.<\/p> <\/p> Local Authority as landlord:<\/strong><\/p> <\/p> The Local Authority use the \u2018Landlord Portal\u2019 to provide details of a claimant\u2019s rent and tenancy details. When the information provided does not match what the claimant has given, the claimant will then be able to accept or reject the information uploaded by the Local Authority by logging into their Universal Credit account.<\/p> <\/p> If the claimant accepts the information provided by the Local Authority no further action is required. If the Local Authority has provided information that is rejected by the claimant, the claimant is advised to make contact to resolve this. This could require a subsequent housing declaration to be provided. The \u2018Landlord Portal\u2019 has a summary screen that allows the Local Authority to confirm or change the information they are about to provide before it has been submitted.<\/p> <\/p> This process applies whenever there is a rent change, including annual uprating of rent. The Landlord Portal is the streamlined communication tool which allows the Local Authority to disclose the rent thus highlighting errors in the claimants Universal Credit.<\/p> <\/p> Local Authority as administrator of Housing Benefit and Council Tax:<\/strong><\/p> <\/p> Once a claim to Universal Credit has been made, the Local Authority will receive a notification if the claimant is in receipt of Housing Benefit. This will inform the Local Authority of the claim to Universal Credit so they can take the action to close the Housing Benefit claim where needed. The Local Authority will inform Universal Credit of the action they have taken and if there is any payment to be offset within the first assessment period.<\/p> <\/p> Additionally, during the Universal Credit claim process, the claimant will be asked if their name is on the council tax bill. If the claimant answers \u2018yes\u2019, they are asked if they have applied for a reduction in their council tax. If the claimant answers that they have applied or will apply for a Council Tax Reduction, their details will be shared with the Local Authority. This is a one-way communication which allows for the Local Authority to take the appropriate action regarding an application for a Council Tax Reduction.<\/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" : "2019-06-03", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "254086"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1126539/answer/previousversion/119077", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-06-03T13:09:40.383Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-05-14", "_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 support her Department provides to local authorities to help (a) identify and (b) remedy errors in universal credit calculations.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/163", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Ham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Timms"}
], "uin" : "254088"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1082534", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1082534/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The information requested is not held by the Department. Adjustments to payments owing to RTI and self-reported earnings cannot always be separated from other adjustments to a payment, such as a repayment of advances.<\/p> <\/p> From the information that is readily available for Universal Credit Full Service, in January 2019, over 1 million households had payments processed, and of these around 380,000 had an adjustment.<\/p> <\/p> Of the 380,000 payments processed that had an adjustment:<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Notes:<\/p> The Department does not take deductions from a claimant\u2019s Universal Credit award with the sole intent of contributing to the Department\u2019s administrative costs.<\/p> <\/p> For example, where payments of child maintenance are made via the Child Maintenance Service, rather than directly between clients, a 20% collection fee is incurred by the paying parent. This applies to deductions from benefit, including Universal Credit, in the same way as any other collection method.<\/p> <\/p> Similarly, in cases of benefit fraud an administrative penalty can be recovered as a deduction. These penalties are offered as an alternative to prosecution, are not imposed by the Department and can be declined by claimants.<\/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" : "2019-03-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1082327/answer/previousversion/106853", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-26T16:24:24.893Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-05", "_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, in what circumstances deductions are made from a claimant's universal credit payment in order to contribute to her Department's administration costs; and if she will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/163", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Ham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Timms"}
], "uin" : "228540"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1082329", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1082329/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Comprehensive guidance is available to all staff and is very clear when a claim should be closed. A claim may close for various reasons including an increase in income.<\/p> <\/p> Universal Credit is an in and out of work benefit to encourage claimants to move into employment and increase their earnings.<\/p> <\/p> Re-claims provides a simple route back onto Universal Credit for claimants who have a short break in entitlement, for example, entering temporary work. Re-claims will allow most claimants who return to Universal Credit within six assessment periods of their previous award ending, to retain their previous Universal Credit assessment period and payment dates, as long as they continue to meet the basic conditions of entitlement.<\/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" : "2019-03-21", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1082329/answer/previousversion/106854", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4014", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Reading West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Alok Sharma"}
}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-21T10:53:11.733Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-05", "_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, in what circumstances a universal credit claimant will be advised by a work coach to close his or her current application and make a new application; and if she will make a statement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/163", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "East Ham"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Stephen Timms"}
], "uin" : "228541"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1037783", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1037783/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The information requested by each conditionality group is not readily available for Universal Credit Full and Live Service claimants and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.<\/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. 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 reason, into account before deciding whether a sanction is warranted.<\/p> However, the information that is readily available is displayed in the table below. This shows the number of Universal Credit Full Service sanction decisions which were followed by a Recoverable Hardship Payment during 2017 and 2018.<\/p> <\/p> Sanction decision month<\/p><\/td> Number of UC Full Service sanction decisions which were followed by a Recoverable Hardship Payment1<\/sup><\/p><\/td> Number of people on Universal Credit2<\/sup><\/p><\/td><\/tr> Jan-17<\/p><\/td> 100<\/p><\/td> 437,751<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Feb-17<\/p><\/td> 0<\/p><\/td> 458,742<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Mar-17<\/p><\/td> 0<\/p><\/td> 481,592<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Apr-17<\/p><\/td> 100<\/p><\/td> 504,748<\/p><\/td><\/tr> May-17<\/p><\/td> 400<\/p><\/td> 513,481<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Jun-17<\/p><\/td> 300<\/p><\/td> 527,535<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Jul-17<\/p><\/td> 300<\/p><\/td> 551,088<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Aug-17<\/p><\/td> 400<\/p><\/td> 574,802<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Sep-17<\/p><\/td> 300<\/p><\/td> 601,921<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Oct-17<\/p><\/td> 400<\/p><\/td> 623,565<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Nov-17<\/p><\/td> 300<\/p><\/td> 650,145<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Dec-17<\/p><\/td> 200<\/p><\/td> 692,039<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Jan-18<\/p><\/td> 600<\/p><\/td> 717,523<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Feb-18<\/p><\/td> 500<\/p><\/td> 762,909<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Mar-18<\/p><\/td> 500<\/p><\/td> 801,401<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Apr-18<\/p><\/td> 700<\/p><\/td> 856,280<\/p><\/td><\/tr> May-18<\/p><\/td> 400<\/p><\/td> 902,317<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Jun-18<\/p><\/td> 1100<\/p><\/td> 961,643<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Jul-18<\/p><\/td> 2200<\/p><\/td> 1,019,181<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Aug-18<\/p><\/td> 2400<\/p><\/td> 1,093,073<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> Notes:<\/p> <\/p>