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1188187

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has plans to make people that are self-employed and have pension savings exempt from the rules on capital when applying for universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mhairi Black
uin	37726
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Regardless of employment status, any funds held in an occupational or personal pension scheme are disregarded as capital in Universal Credit until the claimant reaches the pension age of the scheme, or withdraws funds from the scheme early.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 28/04/2020 14:16:54 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4421 label Biography information for Mhairi Black

1188211

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Universal Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of upfront childcare costs under the childcare element of universal credit on maternal employment rates.
tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
uin	37733
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The Department has not made an assessment of the effect of upfront childcare costs on maternal employment rates and it would require disproportionate costs to do so.</p><p> </p><p>The Government recognises that high childcare costs can affect parents’ decisions to take up paid work or increase their working hours. Working families claiming Universal Credit can therefore reclaim up to 85 per cent of their eligible childcare costs each month up to £646.35 for one child and £1,108.04 for two or more children. Eligible claimants can also get help from the Flexible Support Fund with initial up-front fees and advance costs as they move into work. Alternatively, help with upfront costs may also be available through Budgeting Advances.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 28/04/2020 16:19:59 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1188212

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Flexible Support Fund
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people received support for upfront childcare costs under the Flexible Support Fund in the latest period for which figures are available; and what proportion of that Fund was used for childcare in that period.
tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
uin	37734
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2020 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate costs.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In response to the WPSC inquiry on childcare in June 2019 we committed to publish a breakdown of flexible support funds spent on upfront childcare costs at the end of the financial year once accounts audited.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 01/05/2020 14:08:08 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies previous answer version 17550 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

1188218

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Department for Work and Pensions: Remote Working
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff of her Department have formal arrangements to work from home during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	37720
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Working from home data is not recorded on our HR systems. However, the number of staff logging into the Department’s computer system via a secure remote connection shows that approximately 20% of staff were working from home.</p><p> </p><p>We have now provided an additional 6656 computers to enable working from home; we will deploy a further 6,000 in the next fortnight.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 28/04/2020 17:54:58 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

1188219

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to re-deploy staff of her Department to assist with processing new applications for social security benefits during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Rutherglen and Hamilton West
tabling member printed	Margaret Ferrier
uin	37721
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Our priority as a Department is ensuring people get their benefit payments and that we can continue to support those who need us the most.</p><p> </p><p>We are re-deploying over 10,000 staff to critical frontline services as well as recruiting additional staff to support this priority.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 28/04/2020 13:41:35 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4386 label Biography information for Margaret Ferrier

1188257

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Burial: Costs
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has plans to provide financial support for burial costs to people in financial hardship with relatives who have died as a result of covid-19.
tabling member constituency	Wolverhampton South West
tabling member printed	Stuart Anderson
uin	37747
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>The Government provides support to bereaved families in a number of ways. The Funeral Expenses Payments scheme provides a significant contribution towards the cost of a simple, respectful funeral arranged by recipients of certain income based benefits or tax credits. The scheme pays necessary burial and cremation costs in full, as defined by legislation, plus up to £1000 for other expenses such as the cost of a coffin, church and funeral director fees, which was increased from £700 on 8 April. Scotland has a similar scheme, the Funeral Support Payment scheme. Support for funeral costs for all young people under 18 is provided by the Children’s Funeral Fund for England, with similar schemes in Scotland and Wales. Interest-free Social Fund Budgeting Loans and Universal Credit Budgeting Advances can also be used for funeral expenses. Further financial support is available through Bereavement Support Payments which help working age people whose spouse or civil partner dies.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies grouped question UIN 37918 question first answered 28/04/2020 13:25:30 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	4742 label Biography information for Stuart Anderson

1188262

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Statutory Sick Pay: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the covid-19 outbreak, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that (a) temporary workers, (b) people on zero and low hours contracts and (b) people that are self-employed may claim Statutory Sick Pay.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	37441
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Gig workers or those on zero-hours contracts may be entitled to Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if they meet all eligibility criteria. However, SSP is just one part of our welfare safety net and our wider government offer of support.</p><p> </p><p>Many of those earning below £120 per week, who are not eligible for SSP, are already in receipt of benefits. For those on Universal Credit, their award will rise if their income falls.</p><p>Those who are not already in receipt of benefits may claim Universal Credit and/or new style Employment and Support Allowance, depending on their individual circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>Self-employed people unable to work because they are directly affected by COVID-19 or who are self-isolating will also be eligible for Contributory Employment and Support Allowance which is now payable from the first day of sickness, rather than the eighth.</p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 28/04/2020 12:19:04 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1188263

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to provide financial support for low-income households affected by the covid-19 outbreak; and whether her Department has plans to suspend the use of benefit sanctions during that period.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	37442
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/05/2020 answer text <p>DWP took the decision to temporarily suspend both the requirement to attend a face to face appointments and to conduct checks on conditionality compliance with work search for 3 months from 19<sup>th</sup> March 2020. This means no sanctions will be applied for these reasons for the 3 month period, though DWP still encourages people who can work to seek work.</p><p> </p><p>For people that are unable to access or use digital services, assistance to make and maintain their Universal Credit claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Government has been clear in its commitment to support those affected in these difficult times and we have made a number of changes to the welfare system to ensure people are receiving the support they need. These changes include:</p><p> </p><ul><li>making it easier to access benefits. Those applying for Contributory ESA will be able to claim from day 1 – as opposed to day 8 - and we have removed the need for face-to-face assessment. Both Universal Credit and Contributory ESA can now be claimed by phone or online;</li><li>increasing the standard rate of Universal Credit and working tax credit for this year by around £1000 per year;</li><li>temporarily relaxing the application of the Minimum Income Floor (MIF) for all self-employed claimants affected by the economic impact of COVID-19 to ensure that the self-employed can access UC at a more generous rate;</li><li>making Statutory Sick Pay available from day 1 – as opposed to day 4 - where an eligible individual is sick or self-isolating; and</li><li>increasing the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants so that it covers at least 30% of the market rents in an area – which is on average £600 in people’s pockets.</li></ul><p> </p><p>Taken together, these measures represent an injection of over £6.5 billion into the welfare system and, along with other job and business support programmes announced by the Chancellor, represent one of the most comprehensive packages of support introduced by an advanced economy in response to the covid-19 outbreak.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>We currently have no plans to cancel or suspend pre-existing sanctions. Claimants who were sanctioned before Covid 19 can continue to apply for hardship payments and are no worse off as a result of the pandemic. We continue to review our policies as the situation evolves.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 05/05/2020 10:12:06 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies previous answer version 17549 answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1188264

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Immigrants
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Public Health England's guidance on social distancing and self-isolation, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of financial support for people with no recourse to public funds to enable them to follow that guidance.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	37443
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>Access to DWP income-related benefits such as Universal Credit flows from an individual’s immigration status. The Home Office determine whether persons granted leave to enter or remain in the UK are eligible to access public funds.</p><p>Those unable to access DWP income-related benefits, such as Universal Credit, may be eligible to access DWP contributions-based benefits, providing they meet eligibility criteria.</p><p>Government measures to support workers and their families through Covid-19 are also available for those who meet the eligibility criteria. These include the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Self-employed Income Support Scheme and Statutory Sick Pay.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 28/04/2020 15:03:19 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

1188276

registered interest
date	20/04/2020
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Employment and Support Allowance: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to increase Employment and Support Allowance during the covid-19 outbreak.
tabling member constituency	Paisley and Renfrewshire South
tabling member printed	Mhairi Black
uin	37759
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/04/2020 answer text <p>We currently have no plans to increase Employment and Support Allowance above its current rates.</p><p>We have announced a suite of measures that can be quickly and effectively operationalised to benefit those facing the most financial disruption, such as increasing the standard rate in Universal Credit by £86.67 per month (equivalent to £20 per week) on top of the planned annual uprating. This additional increase means claimants will be up to £1040 better off. We estimate 2.5m households on UC will benefit straight away, as well as new claimants who become unemployed or whose earnings or work hours decrease because of the outbreak. The Universal Credit IT system is significantly more flexible than our legacy systems and uses different technology from other DWP systems. The Department is experiencing significant increased demand and the Government has to prioritise the safety and stability of the benefits system overall.</p><p>We have also made a number of changes to legacy benefits like Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including increases in entitlement. These new measures include:</p><p> </p><ul><li>Providing more support for benefit claimants in the Private Rented Sector by increasing Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30th percentile, helping to alleviate affordability challenges. Those receiving Housing Benefit and legacy benefits will benefit from this increase.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Treating all ESA claimants who satisfy the conditions of entitlement and are suffering from COVID-19 or who are required to self-isolate in line with government guidance, including vulnerable individuals who have been advised by the NHS to ‘shield’ (stay at home for at least 12 weeks) because they are at high risk of severe illness, as having limited capability for work, without the requirement to undergo a Work Capability Assessment,</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Removing waiting days for ESA, so it will be payable from day one of the claim, subject to the claimant satisfying the normal conditions of entitlement; and,</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>Allowing disabled and sick claimants who cannot attend a reassessment for Personal Independence Payments, Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit to continue to receive their payments while their assessment is rearranged.</li></ul> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 28/04/2020 14:50:21 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4421 label Biography information for Mhairi Black