Department for Work and Pensions<p>Savings and other capital held in the name of children are not taken into account in the assessment of Universal Credit entitlement. As with other means tested benefits, however, there are rules to prevent claimants depriving themselves of capital in order to claim Universal Credit or increase their entitlement to Universal Credit. If claimants deprive themselves of capital by gifting the capital to their children or placing it in a child’s account, notional capital of the amount deprived may still be taken into account when assessing entitlement to Universal Credit.</p>East HampshireDamian Hinds2017-12-05false2017-12-05T15:25:13.62Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2017-11-27Universal Credit: Personal Savings1House of Commonswhether savings held in the name of children are taken into account in applications for universal credit.falseStirlingStephen Kerr115797Department for Work and Pensions<p>We simplified and rationised the various, complex disability premiums that exist in the legacy system and anyone in the Support Group who only qualifies for the Enhanced Disability Premium, will be better off in Universal Credit by over £90 per month.</p>Truro and FalmouthSarah Newton2017-12-18false2017-12-18T17:33:47.793Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2017-12-18Universal Credit1House of CommonsWhether universal credit claimants will lose money if they receive a disability premium in addition to income-based benefits.falseSittingbourne and SheppeyGordon Henderson903001Department for Work and Pensions<p>We are committed to assessing people with health conditions and disabilities fairly and accurately, and helping people to access the right support. We made a clear commitment in <em>Improving Lives</em>: <em>The Future of Work, Health and Disability</em> to reform the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) and recognise the importance of getting this right. We are therefore testing new approaches to build the evidence base for what works, and working with external stakeholders to inform future changes to the WCA.</p><p> </p><p>Over the last year we have introduced new guidance into Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit (UC), as well as updated guidance for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to improve the service we provide for those with the most severe/lifelong conditions. For ESA/UC since September 2017 we have switched off routine reassessments for those who meet the Severe Conditions criteria, and since August 2018, those receiving the highest level of support in PIP, whose needs are unlikely to change or may get worse, will now receive an ongoing award with a light touch review at the ten year point.</p>Truro and FalmouthSarah Newton2019-02-11false2019-02-11T17:02:14.837Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2019-02-11Social Security Benefits: Disability1House of CommonsWhether her Department has plans to redesign the reassessment process for benefit recipients with severe mental or physical disabilities.falseRomfordAndrew Rosindell909127Department for Work and Pensions<p>The last time I attended a Personal Independence Payment assessment centre was 12th December 2017. I was struck by the professional and helpful attitude displayed by all the staff at the assessment centre.</p><p> </p><p>My Honourable Friend, the member for North West Hampshire (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Family Support, Housing and Child Maintenance, Kit Malthouse MP) visited Vauxhall assessment centre on the 17th April 2018. Like me he found the visit extremely informative.</p>Truro and FalmouthSarah Newton2018-05-21false2018-05-21T16:10:15.647Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2018-05-21Personal Independence Payment: Medical Examinations1House of CommonsWhen she last visited a personal independence payment assessment centre.falseEdinburgh North and LeithDeidre Brock905452Department for Work and Pensions<p>The Department plans to implement the 12-month end-of-life approach across five DWP benefits, beginning in Universal Credit alongside Employment and Support Allowance next year. This will be followed by Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment subject to Parliamentary processes.</p>Norwich NorthChloe Smith2021-11-08false2021-11-08T17:57:11.36Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2021-11-08Social Security Benefits: Terminal Illnesses1House of CommonsWhen her Department will bring forward legislative proposals to introduce a 12 month eligibility definition for the Special Rules for Terminal Illness.falseWaveneyPeter Aldous904069Department for Work and Pensions<p>The Department’s plan for jobs provides funding to ensure that more jobseekers of all ages get tailored support, including to reskill or pivot sectors. This includes programmes such as the Job Finding Support service, Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS) and the Restart scheme, to help them find work. The JETS scheme in particular helps jobseekers update their digital skills, job searching tools and to identify transferrable skills, which has been extended to September 2022.</p><p> </p><p>Additionally, as part of the £500m Plan for Jobs expansion, we are funding a new enhanced support package for workers over the age of 50 to help them to stay in and return to work. This offer has two strands – Older workers will receive better information and guidance on later life planning, helping them make informed choices and supporting them to plan their career and remain in work. For those who have lost their jobs, this funding will ensure that older job seekers on Universal Credit receive more intensive, tailored support as they look to take the next step in their career. A network of 50 Plus Champions across all 37 Jobcentre Plus districts will enable and encourage work coaches to direct suitable Plan for Jobs and local support to claimants aged 50 and over</p><p> </p><p>The UK government are also investing £2.5 billion in the National Skills Fund in England to aid The Lifetime Skills Guarantee. From April 2021, adults of any age over 24 who are looking to achieve their first full Level 3 will be able to access fully funded courses which will give them new skills and greater prospects in the labour market. The free online Skills Toolkit also provides online learning focused on digital, numeracy and employability skills.</p>Mid SussexMims Davies2021-11-08false2021-11-08T18:05:23.34Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2021-11-08Unemployment: Older People1House of CommonsWhat support her Department provides to older jobseekers to reskill or change careers.falseBroxtoweDarren Henry904075Department for Work and Pensions<p>My Department has taken significant steps to ensure jobseekers continue to get the help they need throughout the pandemic. As well as recruiting thousands of new Work Coaches, our employment support programmes, including Job Finding Support and SWAPs offer both online and - when necessary and appropriate - face-to-face support in line with the latest guidance.</p><p>In addition, as part of the DWP Estates Expansion and Renewal Programme my Hon.Friend will already be aware that we have secured new premises for a JobCentre Plus in Stockton.</p>Mid SussexMims Davies2021-01-25false2021-01-25T18:02:52.647Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2021-01-25Employment: Coronavirus1House of CommonsWhat support her Department is providing to help people find new jobs during the covid-19 lockdown.falseStockton SouthMatt Vickers911287Department for Work and Pensions<p>This Government is committed to enabling young disabled people to fulfil their potential and achieve their aspirations. We provide a range of programmes and initiatives to support them, including:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Jobcentre support for schools, which targets young people that schools identify as being at risk of becoming NEET (not in employment, education or training), or who may otherwise be disadvantaged in the labour market – for example those with a health or disability issue.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The Young Person’s Supported Work Experience programme, which offers a personally tailored supported work experience opportunity for young people (aged 18 – 24) to enable them to fully benefit from time in the work place. This proof of concept is being tested in five Jobcentre Plus districts.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Tri-Work, a supported work experience proof of concept aimed at young people with special educational needs in years 10/11 in schools and special schools. This proof of concept is being tested in three local authorities.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The Local Supported Employment (LSE) proof of concept ‘place and train’ model, which aims to move disabled people into real jobs, at the going rate of pay, with support for both the individual and employer. This is being tested in nine local authorities.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Supported Internships, which all qualified post-16 education providers in England have been able to deliver Since September 2013. These are personalised study programmes, based primarily at a prospective employer, for young people with complex learning difficulties and/or disabilities.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Access to Work, which already offers support to disabled people undertaking a number of opportunities that help them to prepare for paid employment, including work experience, apprenticeships, supported internships and traineeships.</li></ul>Truro and FalmouthSarah Newton2018-03-26false2018-03-26T16:47:07.75Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2018-03-26Employment: Disability1House of CommonsWhat steps the Government is taking to help young people with disabilities into work.falseWalsall NorthEddie Hughes904565Department for Work and Pensions<p>DWP is working with the Ministry of Justice to develop a new digital system with a view to enabling swifter processing of appeals and a better service for all parties to the proceedings. Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit claimants can now submit their appeal online.</p>North SwindonJustin Tomlinson2020-01-27false2020-01-27T15:52:22.95Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2020-01-22Social Security Benefits: Appeals1House of CommonsWhat steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Justice to reduce the waiting time for welfare benefit tribunal appeals.falseSittingbourne and SheppeyGordon Henderson900404Department for Work and Pensions<p>The Government’s Job Retention and Eat Out to Help Out schemes have provided unprecedented support to the tourism and hospitality sector</p><p> </p><p>The August 2020 statistics[1] show that the accommodation and food services sector has seen 77% of employments furloughed, with over £4.7 billion claimed through CJRS. 87% of employers in this sector have furloughed at least one employment.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>By midnight on 31 August more than 100 million meals were eaten by diners as part of Eat Out to Help Out, with the 84,700 establishments signed up to the scheme making 130,000 claims worth £522 million[2].</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>For those in the sector that have unfortunately been made unemployed, I am working with colleagues from across government to ensure these people can access support to pivot into sectors where jobs are available.</p><p> </p><p>More widely, my department is working closely with other government departments, external organisations and local partners to support people into work. The Kickstart scheme was recently announced to help young people aged 16-24 find 6-month work places, while the start of Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS) and Job Finding Support Service will follow.</p><p> </p><p>As my Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out in his Plans for Jobs statement[3] in July, DWP is also doubling the number of work coaches in Job Centres to help provide the urgent support needed for jobseekers to find work, including those in the tourism and hospitality sector.</p><p> </p><p>As well as this, DWP designed two websites that were launched in April, Jobhelp and Employer Help, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, recognising both a radically different labour market as some sectors contract and others expand. Jobhelp[4] offers job search advice, showcases recruiting sectors and signposts to job vacancies to help people successfully find work.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>[1] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-statistics-august-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-statistics-august-2020</a></p><p> </p><p>[2] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-diners-eat-100-million-meals-to-protect-2-million-jobs" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-diners-eat-100-million-meals-to-protect-2-million-jobs</a></p><p> </p><p>[3] <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/a-plan-for-jobs-2020" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/a-plan-for-jobs-2020</a></p><p>[4] <a href="https://jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/</a></p>Mid SussexMims Davies2020-09-14false2020-09-14T17:03:34.553Z29Work and PensionsWork and Pensions2020-09-14Hospitality Industry and Tourism: Employment1House of CommonsWhat steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to (a) tackle unemployment and (b) promote job retention in the tourism and hospitality sector.falseWestmorland and LonsdaleTim Farron905930100129526