People use food banks for many reasons and it would be misleading to link them to any single cause.<\/p>
<\/p>
We have made a number of improvements to the waiting period to ensure claimants have enough money to manage until the first Universal Credit payment is made.<\/p>
<\/p>
New claimants to Universal Credit can apply for a 100% advance if they need some financial support until the first regular payment is made, which can be repaid over 16 months from October 2021.<\/p>
<\/p>
Since April 2018, claimants have received a two week run-on of housing benefit payments. From July 2020, income related legacy benefits will continue for two weeks after a claim for Universal Credit has been made. This measure means that around 1.1 million people will see a one-off gain of approximately £200, between 2020/21 and 2023/24.<\/p>
<\/strong><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-27T12:41:14.377Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-22", "_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 assessment she has made of the effect of reducing the waiting period for the payment of universal credit payment on foodbank usage in (a) Edgbaston, (b) the West Midlands and (c) England.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4603", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Preet Kaur Gill"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birmingham, Edgbaston"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Preet Kaur Gill"}
], "uin" : "194769"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1012452", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1012452/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Work and Pensions Select Committee recently published its report on Universal Support. We will respond to the Committee\u2019s recommendations in due course.<\/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" : "2018-11-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-27T18:11:03.137Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-22", "_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, when her Department plans to respond to the recommendations set out in the Work and Pensions Committee report, Universal Support.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/534", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Chris Ruane"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Vale of Clwyd"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Chris Ruane"}
], "uin" : "194625"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1011471", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1011471/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.<\/p> <\/p> Currently, claimants moving from existing benefits to Universal Credit will only do so because they will have had a change in their circumstances that would previously, under the legacy system, have triggered a new claim to benefits or tax credits. In such circumstances they would always have had their entitlement calculated based on the rules of their new benefit. This principle has been maintained for those moving to Universal Credit.<\/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" : "2018-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-26T16:18:58.95Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_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 recent estimate she has made of the number of claimants that have received less money as a result of moving from working tax credits to universal credit.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1387", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Mann"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Bassetlaw"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "John Mann"}
], "uin" : "194064"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1011496", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1011496/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " For eligible claims to Universal Credit Full Service due a payment in September 2018, 55% (490,000 claims) had a deduction (which may include for advances, sanctions, fraud penalties, and other deductions).<\/p> The information for claims with deductions above 20 per cent of their standard allowance is as follows:<\/p> a. 12% (61,000 claims) had deductions at 40% of the Standard Allowance (7% of all eligible claims)<\/p> b. 28% (138,000 claims) had deductions above 30% of the Standard Allowance (15% of all eligible claims)<\/p> c. 47% (232,000 claims) had deductions above 20% of their Standard Allowance (26% of all eligible claims).<\/p> Notes: <\/strong> Claim numbers may not match official statistics caseloads due to methodological differences.<\/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" : "2018-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "194148"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-26T17:30:08.847Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_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 and what proportion of universal credit payments had a deduction in the latest month for which data is available.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4523", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Catherine West"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hornsey and Wood Green"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Catherine West"}
], "uin" : "194147"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1011497", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1011497/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " For eligible claims to Universal Credit Full Service due a payment in September 2018, 55% (490,000 claims) had a deduction (which may include for advances, sanctions, fraud penalties, and other deductions).<\/p> The information for claims with deductions above 20 per cent of their standard allowance is as follows:<\/p> a. 12% (61,000 claims) had deductions at 40% of the Standard Allowance (7% of all eligible claims)<\/p> b. 28% (138,000 claims) had deductions above 30% of the Standard Allowance (15% of all eligible claims)<\/p> c. 47% (232,000 claims) had deductions above 20% of their Standard Allowance (26% of all eligible claims).<\/p> Notes: <\/strong> Claim numbers may not match official statistics caseloads due to methodological differences.<\/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" : "2018-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "194147"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-26T17:30:08.907Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_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 and what proportion of universal credit claimants who have a level of deduction from the standard allowance have a reduction of (a) the 40 per cent cap and (b) above the 30 per cent level (c) above the 20 per cent level in the most recent month for which data is available.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4523", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Catherine West"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hornsey and Wood Green"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Catherine West"}
], "uin" : "194148"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1011501", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1011501/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " I refer the Hon Member to the reply to Question 146120, which contains the information from May 2017 to April 2018. Information from May 2018 onwards can be seen in the table below.<\/p> <\/p> Month<\/p><\/td> May 2018<\/p><\/td> June 2018<\/p><\/td> July 2018<\/p><\/td> August 2018<\/p><\/td> Sept 2018<\/p><\/td> Oct 2018<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Number of claimants with disputes<\/p><\/td> 3302<\/p><\/td> 3348<\/p><\/td> 4349<\/p><\/td> 4946<\/p><\/td> 3805<\/p><\/td> 5737<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Caseload on Universal Credit<\/p><\/td> 921,009<\/p><\/td> 982,354<\/p><\/td> 1,041,240<\/p><\/td> 1,117,206<\/p><\/td> 1,217,964<\/p><\/td> 1,317,985<\/p><\/td><\/tr> Disputes as a proportion of total caseload<\/p><\/td> 0.36%<\/p><\/td> 0.34%<\/p><\/td> 0.42%<\/p><\/td> 0.44%<\/p><\/td> 0.31%<\/p><\/td> 0.44%<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/strong><\/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" : "2018-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-26T16:00:53.307Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_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 universal credit claimants in employment have had a disputed earnings referral in respect of their claim in each month since April 2017.", "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" : "194074"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1011514", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1011514/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Although Autumn Budget 2018 announced a reduction (applying from October 2019) in the overall maximum rate of deductions from Universal Credit from 40% to 30%, the maximum proportion of Universal Credit which can be deducted for claimant rent arrears has not changed and remains between 10 and 20 per cent.<\/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" : "2018-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-26T18:28:55.217Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_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, whether the maximum proportion of universal credit which can be deducted for claimant rent arrears will change as a result of Budget 2018.", "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" : "194161"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1011515", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1011515/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " There are no circumstances in which the repayment of an advance can be taken in excess of 40% of a claimant\u2019s Universal Credit standard allowance.*<\/p> <\/p> From October 2019, we will reduce the maximum rate at which deductions can be made from a Universal Credit award from 40% to 30% of the standard allowance. This will ensure that those on Universal Credit are supported to repay debts in a more sustainable and manageable way. From October 2021, we will also increase the period over which advances will be recovered, from 12 to 16 months.<\/p> <\/p> * The addition of a subsequent deduction such as for rent, gas or electricity arrears may take the overall level of deductions to over 40% in a small number of cases. In these circumstances the advance repayments do not themselves take the claimant over the threshold, rather the additional deductions are made to protect claimant welfare by preventing disconnection or eviction.<\/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" : "2018-11-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-26T17:30:26.45Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-21", "_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 the repayment of an advance can be deducted from a claimant's universal credit in addition to the maximum proportion that can be deducted for other debts.", "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" : "194162"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1011518", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1011518/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " This information was published on 13 November 2018 as a Universal Credit official statistics release. It is available via the link below.<\/p> <\/p> Year<\/strong><\/p><\/td> Total PBA<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2013 - March2014<\/p><\/td> 17<\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2014 \u2013 March 2015<\/p><\/td> 135<\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2015 \u2013 March 2016<\/p><\/td> 503<\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2016 \u2013 March 2017<\/p><\/td> 1,743<\/p><\/td><\/tr> April 2017 \u2013 March 2018<\/p><\/td> 10,222<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
<\/strong>Claim numbers are rounded to the nearest 1,000<\/p>
<\/strong>Claim numbers are rounded to the nearest 1,000<\/p>