Interim evaluation from the first 6 months of the Direct Payment Demonstration Projects was published in December 2013 and can be found at:<\/p>
<\/p>
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/265257/direct-payment-demo-figures-dec-2013.pdf<\/a><\/p> <\/p> DWP has developed three levels of safeguards for tenants and landlords based on findings from the Direct Payment Demonstration Projects and continuous improvements through our test and learn approach in live service.<\/p> <\/p> We make an initial judgement on each claim as to whether the claimant is at risk of default and if so, we can put them on managed payments immediately. In the majority of cases Direct Payments will apply and we have two safeguards in place; (1) We will review the initial decision if we are advised that arrears have reached the equivalent of one months rent. (2) We will move to payment to the landlord if we are advised that arrears have reached the equivalent of two months rent.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/220", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Steve Webb"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Thornbury and Yate"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Steve Webb"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-26T14:13:49.7866832Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Universal Credit: Housing Benefit"}
, "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 he has made of the effect of universal credit on landlords who have claimants as tenants; what the results were of the direct payment demonstration projects on the effect of paying housing benefit direct to tenants; and if he will reduce the two calendar month rent arrears trigger point before a landlord can go directly to his Department for direct payment.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/446", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jim Dobbin"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Heywood and Middleton"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jim Dobbin"}
], "uin" : "201714"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63434", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63434/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " All Advisers have access to comprehensive and clear procedures, guidance and extensive learning which equips them to advise claimants who may have their entitlement to benefit ended, including alternative sources of financial assistance.<\/p> <\/p> Where a benefit doubt is identified and the case is being referred to a decision maker, claimants are given information (verbally and in writing) about the doubt in question, what happens next, what they can do if their claim ends and the availability of Jobseeker's Allowance under the hardship provision.<\/p> <\/p> Once a decision is made and entitlement ends, a formal notification is issued to the claimant, which includes information about the availability of Jobseeker's Allowance under the hardship provision.<\/p> <\/p> Where the Department for Work and Pensions is unable to help claimants they will be signposted to other types of support in their areas, including local authorities.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4084", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Esther McVey"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wirral West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Esther McVey"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-26T13:56:55.9635467Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Jobseeker's Allowance"}
, "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 he has issued to jobcentre staff on information to provide to jobseeker's allowance claimants whose claim has been stopped on the other support options available.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/304", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Mr Roger Godsiff"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Birmingham, Hall Green"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Mr Roger Godsiff"}
], "uin" : "201736"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63448", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63448/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Secretary of State has regular meetings with the Chancellor to discuss all Departmental policies.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4084", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Esther McVey"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wirral West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Esther McVey"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-26", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-26T14:11:11.5182019Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment and Support Allowance"}
, "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 discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the costs of administering employment and support allowance between 2014-15 and 2018-19.", "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" : "201891"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63025", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63025/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " <\/p> NEA was rolled out nationally in August 2011, with eligibility for JSA claimants only. Eligibility was broadened to ESA WRAG recipients in February 2013 although we expect the vast majority of participants to continue to be those claiming JSA.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> The benefit type of claimants admitted on New Enterprise Allowance (NEA) is not routinely recorded. Analysis has been conducted to identify NEA mentor starts by ESA claimants since eligibility for NEA was opened up on 18 February 2013. The results are shown in the table below.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Estimated number of NEA mentor starts by ESA claimants in each calendar year:<\/strong><\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> 18th<\/sup> Feb 2013<\/strong> \u2013 31st<\/sup> Dec 2013<\/strong><\/p><\/td> <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 630<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr> 1st<\/sup> Jan 2014<\/strong> - 31st<\/sup> Mar 2014<\/strong><\/p><\/td> <\/strong><\/p><\/td> 210<\/strong><\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Source:<\/p> <\/p> DWP National Benefits Database and Opportunities Database<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Notes:<\/p> <\/p> Figures rounded to the nearest 10<\/p> <\/p> Data available to 31st<\/sup> March 2014<\/p> <\/p> More than 99% of mentor starts were matched to an appropriate benefit record<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p> <\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4084", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Esther McVey"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wirral West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Esther McVey"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-25T15:24:42.958733Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "New Enterprise Allowance"}
, "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 claimants of employment and support allowance have been admitted to the new enterprise allowance scheme in each year since that scheme began.", "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" : "201605"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63026", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63026/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Following a trailblazer started in January 2011, New Enterprise Allowance was launched in April 2011 creating 46,000 new businesses between April 2011 and March 2014. Expenditure on New Enterprise Allowance in each year since the scheme began up to March 2014 is<\/p> <\/p> <\/p><\/td> 2010/11<\/p><\/td> 2011/12<\/p><\/td> 2012/13<\/p><\/td> 2013/14<\/p><\/td><\/tr> New Enterprise Allowance<\/p><\/td> £45,600<\/p><\/td> £14,384,781<\/p><\/td> £38,853,998<\/p><\/td> £64,358,727<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> This includes Capital loan payments which will be repaid within three years.<\/p> <\/strong><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4084", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Esther McVey"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wirral West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Esther McVey"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-25T14:27:16.3020396Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "New Enterprise Allowance"}
, "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 much his Department spent on the new enterprise allowance in each year since the scheme began.", "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" : "201609"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63027", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63027/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " When universal credit is fully rolled out, a 95% taper on occupational pension is estimated to cost an additional £50m per annum. A 95% taper on all other unearned income (exclud. occupational pension) is estimated to cost an additional £300m per annum. These estimates are in 2014/15 prices.<\/p> <\/p> The general principle in Universal Credit is that income other than earnings which is provided to meet everyday living costs is taken fully into account in the calculation of the award of benefit. Universal Credit is designed to be responsive to the actual amount of income a claimant receives each month, to ensure people get help when they need it and can budget effectively. This approach also keeps administrative costs down and provides simpler rules for treatment of unearned income.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4084", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Esther McVey"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wirral West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Esther McVey"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-25T15:34:27.0123258Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-20", "_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, if he will estimate the additional annual cost of introducing a taper on (a) an occupational pension and (b) other unearned income into universal credit set at 95 per cent.", "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" : "201608"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63028", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63028/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Implementation will begin in late 2014 and the details will be confirmed when the chosen supplier has been appointed.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/1528", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Sir Mike Penning"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hemel Hempstead"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Mike Penning"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-25", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-25T14:09:34.3349052Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Occupational Health"}
, "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, on what date he expects the Health and Work Service to start operations.", "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" : "201607"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63001", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63001/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " There is one single plan for a Universal Credit on-line service. The current live service is already offering more online services than ever before, with stronger work incentives to get people back into work, and this week we started its expansion across the North West of England. The enhanced digital system is an extension of the current online services and will integrate work and benefits activity, making best use of technology.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4084", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Esther McVey"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Wirral West"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Esther McVey"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2014-06-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2014-06-24T15:56:33.198179Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2014-06-19", "_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 plans he has to merge the two IT systems being developed by his Department to deliver universal credit; and if he 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" : "201459"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63002", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/63002/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The costs of Help to Work, which includes community work placement and the mandatory intervention regime, is:<\/p> <\/p> 2014-15<\/p><\/td> 2015-16.<\/p><\/td><\/tr> £190 million<\/p><\/td> £230 million<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table> <\/p> This information is publicly available at:<\/p>