Universal Credit payments reflect, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period. Assessment periods allow for Universal Credit awards to be adjusted on a monthly basis, ensuring that if a claimant\u2019s income falls, they do not have to wait several months for a rise in their Universal Credit award.<\/p>
<\/p>
Some claimants receive earnings from work multiple times within an assessment period if they are paid via four-weekly, fortnightly, or weekly patterns. This in turn may reduce, or in some cases, nil the Universal Credit award the claimant receives that month. We have produced guidance to help ensure claimants, staff and representatives are aware and it is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles<\/a><\/p> <\/p> Claimants can always discuss the implications of this with their case managers and work coaches and can be referred to Personal Budgeting Support to help them manage their budgeting.<\/p> <\/p> The Government is working with employers to ensure that they use the most appropriate payment practices and comply with RTI guidelines in order to minimise the incidence of erroneous or late reporting by employers, and HMRC have recently updated guidance to reiterate to employers the importance of reporting accurate dates and the impact on payment cycles.<\/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" : "2019-01-29", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-01-29T17:10:43.117Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-01-21", "_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, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of amending the universal credit payment system so that claimants paid on a four-weekly basis for part-time or casual work do not have their benefit payment substantially reduced as a result of receiving two work payments four weeks apart in one calendar month.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4605", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bill Grant"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bill Grant"}
], "uin" : "210704"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/987719", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/987719/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " We have already spent £1.5 billion on improvements during the first assessment period. We have already committed more money to protect the most vulnerable, including the 500,000 people currently receiving the Severe Disability Premium. A million disabled people will be better off.<\/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" : "2018-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-15T16:11:09.68Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Universal Credit"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "What recent changes the Government has made to universal credit to protect the incomes of the most vulnerable claimants.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4605", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bill Grant"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bill Grant"}
], "uin" : "907057"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/969088", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/969088/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Successive Governments have taken care to give proper consideration to the impact of the proposals made in the Pensions Acts of 1995, 2007 and 2011, which each made changes to the State Pension age that affected women born in the 1950s. The exact form of the assessments has changed over time as the requirements on Government to carry out standardised impact assessments have changed.<\/p> The Pensions Act 1995 legislated to equalise men and women\u2019s SPa at 65, over a 10 year period between 2010 and 2020. Standardised impact assessments had not been introduced at the time, but an overview of the options and evidence considered when developing the policy is provided in the 1993 white paper \u2018Equality in State Pension age\u2019. (See attached)<\/p> The Pensions Act 2007 legislated to introduce a timetable for the increase of SPa to 66, 67 and 68, so that these rises took place by 2026, 2036 and 2046.<\/p> The impact assessment for the Pensions Act 2007 can be found here: http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121204130650/http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/pensions-bill-ria.pdf<\/a><\/p> The Pensions Act 2011 brought forward the equalisation of the male and female State Pension age at 65 by 18 months, so that it takes place by November 2018 rather than April 2020. It also brought forward the increase from 65 to 66 by five and a half years, so that it takes place by October 2020 rather than March 2026.<\/p> The impact assessment for the Pensions Act 2011 can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/181462/pensions-bill-2011-ia-annexa.pdf<\/a><\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-09-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-09-13T09:53:11.91Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-09-06", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "State Retirement Pensions: Females"}
, "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 carried out an impact assessment on the effect of the change to the state pension age for women born in the 1950s on their families and dependents.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4605", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bill Grant"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bill Grant"}
], "uin" : "171396"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/967854", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/967854/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The latest available information on the number of people on Universal Credit by parliamentary constituency and local authority is published and can be found at:<\/p> https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/<\/a>.<\/p> Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:<\/p> https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html<\/a><\/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" : "2018-09-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-09-12T16:38:29.017Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2018-09-04", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Universal Credit: Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock"}
, "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 there are in the Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock constituency.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4605", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Bill Grant"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Bill Grant"}
], "uin" : "170392"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/720814", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/720814/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Department is actively promoting the employment potential of all disabled people across Britain, including those with autism, to employers via the Disability Confident Scheme. To further support employers, the Hidden Impairments National Group, established by DWP, provides an \u201cUncovering Hidden Impairment toolkit\u201d which is free of charge to employers.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4017", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Penny Mordaunt"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Portsmouth North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Penny Mordaunt"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-04-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-04-24T12:05:10.193Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-04-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment: Autism"}
, "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 launch a national programme to promote the employment potential of autistic people to employers.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4448", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Corri Wilson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Corri Wilson"}
], "uin" : "70516"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/720815", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/720815/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Over a number of years employment data on people with specific long term health conditions has been collected by the Office for National Statistics using the Labour Force Survey. This important survey has allowed the Department to produce useful time series statistics on the employment rates of individuals with long term health conditions, where this information is collected. The Labour Force Survey includes a large range of health conditions that survey respondents can report they experience; however this does not currently include autism as one of the named health conditions and there are no plans to begin collecting this data.<\/p> <\/p> DWP is working with Autism Alliance UK on a national training programme for Jobcentre Plus staff (so that they can better support claimants with autism into work). In addition, the Department has helped to develop a Disability Passport - About Me - to support disabled people, including those with autism, who are seeking jobs and those helping them. Disabled people can share it with their work coach or adviser, to help improve communication and put any reasonable adjustments in place at the earliest opportunity.<\/p> <\/p> Additionally, Improving Lives \u2013 the Work, Health and Disability Green Paper sets out the Government\u2019s proposals for improving work and health outcomes for disabled people and people with long-term health conditions. We are now considering consultation responses and the next steps for longer term reform.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4017", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Penny Mordaunt"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Portsmouth North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Penny Mordaunt"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-04-24", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-04-24T12:10:02.683Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-04-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment: Autism"}
, "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 record the number of autistic people in employment as part of the Labour Force Survey; and what steps his Department has taken to ensure that autistic people are benefitting from increased employment rates.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4448", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Corri Wilson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Corri Wilson"}
], "uin" : "70517"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/712528", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/712528/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " I have met senior representatives from the company to present the pensioners\u2019 arguments and make clear my interest in the matter.<\/p> <\/p> However, the company is meeting its legal obligations.<\/p> <\/p> Any increases to pensions in payment are likely to mean significant additional expenditure for any scheme and its sponsoring employer. Therefore, the Government has no plans to require all schemes to pay increases on pre-1997 pensions.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4068", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Harrington of Watford"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Watford"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Richard Harrington"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-03-23", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-03-23T15:45:31.427Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-03-20", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Workplace Pensions"}
, "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 progress his Department has made on behalf of DEC, Compaq and Hewlett Packard pensioners with pre-1997 pension contributions in resolving their case.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4448", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Corri Wilson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Corri Wilson"}
], "uin" : "68483"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/711116", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/711116/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Any claimant can request a home consultation for Personal Independence Payment, however a claimant may specifically require a home consultation where their diagnosis suggests extreme difficulty travelling to an assessment due to their health condition or impairment.<\/p> <\/p> All PIP claimants are entitled to use their own equipment to record assessments, within an assessment centre or at their home. This equipment should meet DWP standards. You can find standards for recording PIP assessments, for each Assessment Provider, on their respective websites, or by using the following links:<\/p> <\/p> Atos: http://www.atoshealthcare.com/pip/faq_view/recording_my_consultation<\/a><\/p> Capita: http://www.capita-pip.co.uk/en/assessment-process.html<\/a><\/p> <\/p> The Health Professional does not need to separately consider the recording of a recorded assessment, as they will have conducted the assessment themselves and produced a report; however a copy the recording will be held securely for 14 months following. The Department will consider evidence from the recorded home assessment report in the same way it considers all PIP assessments; by treating people as individuals, considering the impact of their impairment or health condition on their everyday life and how each claimant has personally adapted to living with a disability.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4017", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Penny Mordaunt"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Portsmouth North"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Penny Mordaunt"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2017-03-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "67930"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2017-03-22T13:07:20.087Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2017-03-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Personal Independence Payment"}
, "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 advice his Department issues to personal independence payment claimants on their right to have a recorded home assessment.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4448", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Corri Wilson"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Corri Wilson"}
], "uin" : "67931"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/711117", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/711117/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " Any claimant can request a home consultation for Personal Independence Payment, however a claimant may specifically require a home consultation where their diagnosis suggests extreme difficulty travelling to an assessment due to their health condition or impairment.<\/p> <\/p> All PIP claimants are entitled to use their own equipment to record assessments, within an assessment centre or at their home. This equipment should meet DWP standards. You can find standards for recording PIP assessments, for each Assessment Provider, on their respective websites, or by using the following links:<\/p> <\/p> Atos: http://www.atoshealthcare.com/pip/faq_view/recording_my_consultation<\/a><\/p>