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797806

registered interest
date	30/11/2017
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: Appeals
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will continue employment and support allowance payments while mandatory reconsideration decisions are being processed; and will he make a statement.
tabling member constituency	East Ham
tabling member printed	Stephen Timms
uin	116714
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2017 answer text <p>Employment and Support Allowance, in common with all other benefits, is not paid during the Mandatory Reconsideration period as there are no legal grounds to make a payment of Employment and Support Allowance at this time.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 05/12/2017 12:36:39 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	163 label Biography information for Sir Stephen Timms

797877

registered interest
date	30/11/2017
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	Credit Unions
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make a further review of the credit union expansion project to examine the possibility of additional changes that would allow credit unions to offer additional financial services.
tabling member constituency	East Londonderry
tabling member printed	Mr Gregory Campbell
uin	116784
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2017 answer text <p>The Association of British Credit Unions (ABCUL) is delivering the Credit Union Expansion Project. Three credit unions are using the banking platform delivered through CUEP though none have signed off to business as usual. There is no plan to make changes to the contract.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 05/12/2017 14:00:20 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	1409 label Biography information for Mr Gregory Campbell

797887

registered interest
date	30/11/2017
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 representations he has received on the application of universal credit criteria for those housed in temporary accommodation.
tabling member constituency	East Worthing and Shoreham
tabling member printed	Tim Loughton
uin	116794
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2017 answer text <p>We have listened to concerns from Local Authorities and have announced that from April 2018 any new claims for Universal Credit for Claimants in Temporary Accommodation will have their housing costs met through Housing Benefit. This includes all temporary accommodation, not just Emergency Temporary Accommodation. Existing claimants in Temporary Accommodation on Universal Credit will also move to Housing Benefit.</p><p> </p><p>This measure is expected to help Local Authorities, who currently see a significant funding shortage when they are placing people into Temporary and emergency accommodation in Universal Credit Full Service areas.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 05/12/2017 15:11:29 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	114 label Biography information for Tim Loughton

797360

registered interest
date	29/11/2017
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	Pensioners: British Nationals Abroad
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that UK pensioners in other countries are subject to the same UK pension regulations and UK pension increases irrespective of country of residence.
tabling member constituency	Huddersfield
tabling member printed	Mr Barry Sheerman
uin	116323
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2017 answer text <p>UK State Pensions are payable worldwide to those who are eligible, without regard to nationality. They are up-rated where there is a legal requirement to do so, for example in EEA countries and countries where there is a reciprocal agreement in place that allows for up-rating. This has been the policy of successive Governments for around 70 years and the Government has no plans to change this policy.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 04/12/2017 14:43:40 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	411 label Biography information for Mr Barry Sheerman

797380

registered interest
date	29/11/2017
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	Housing: Charities
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether additional resources will be made available to housing charities for retraining advisers to deal with the effect of the roll-out of universal credit.
tabling member constituency	Cardiff Central
tabling member printed	Jo Stevens
uin	116343
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2017 answer text <p>At a national level the Universal Credit Programme has been working with a wide range of stakeholder and delivery partners including housing charities to build their understanding of Universal Credit. This includes holding regular meetings and providing upskilling and awareness sessions to help support our mutual customers.</p><p> </p><p>The Programme has also built the capability of local partnership facing staff so that they can effectively engage with housing charities, delivery partners and customer representatives. In addition the Programme has developed a suite of products to build the understanding of delivery partners so that they can support claimants and service users at a local level 6 months prior to going live.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 04/12/2017 18:33:09 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	4425 label Biography information for Jo Stevens

797421

registered interest
date	29/11/2017
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	National Insurance: Refugees
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his is taking to ensure that national insurance numbers are issued within 28 days for people who have been granted refugee status to avoid a gap between receiving asylum support and jobseeker's allowance or housing benefit.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	116384
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2017 answer text <p>For those granted leave to remain as a result of a successful asylum claim, a joint fast track NINo process operates between the Home Office (HO) and Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Adult NINo Allocation. This system has been in place since 2005 and means that an application for a NINo is made by the HO on behalf of the individual.</p><p>We have introduced a new process for those refugees who come to the UK via either the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Resettlement Programme or the Gateway Protection Programme. Our joint working with the HO enables DWP Adult NINo Allocation to utilise the refugee’s identity and immigration status details provided by the HO immediately before the refugee arrives in the UK; enabling a NINo to be allocated and printed on their Biometric Residence cards (BRP) as soon as the individual enters the UK, helping to join up services between HO, DWP and Local Authorities.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 04/12/2017 17:40:25 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

797422

registered interest
date	29/11/2017
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	Jobseeker's Allowance: Refugees
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that people granted refugee status receive jobseeker's allowance; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the potential barriers to receiving jobseeker's allowance in respect of a refugee's difficulty (a) in opening a bank account without a permanent address and (b) gaining an address without a bank account.
tabling member constituency	Leeds North West
tabling member printed	Alex Sobel
uin	116385
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2017 answer text <p>People granted refugee status have the same entitlement to benefit as UK citizens. We are working closely with the Home Office to ensure that newly granted refugees are aware of this and receive support to make a claim to benefit where needed.</p><p> </p><p>While bank accounts do remain DWP’s preferred method of payment, it is recognised that some customers including refugees, may have difficulty accessing or opening an account before their first payment of benefit is due. In such cases DWP can make payments via alternative methods such as Post Office card accounts, Simple Payments or into a third party account. These payment methods are available to customers without a permanent address.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 04/12/2017 16:36:28 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	4658 label Biography information for Alex Sobel

797438

registered interest
date	29/11/2017
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	Winter Fuel Payment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of moving the date of eligibility for over 80’s winter fuel allowance to the start of the financial year.
tabling member constituency	Colne Valley
tabling member printed	Thelma Walker
uin	116401
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2017 answer text <p>A person is entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment based on their circumstances in the week beginning on the third Monday in September (known as the qualifying week). This ensures that entitlement relies, among other things, on their age during that week, and it means that most people receive their payment before Christmas. If the qualifying week were moved to the start of the financial year, then those reaching the age of 80 after that week would not receive the higher rate of £300 until the winter after their 81st birthday.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 04/12/2017 14:48:08 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4649 label Biography information for Thelma Walker

797520

registered interest
date	29/11/2017
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	Post Office Card Account
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 26 October 2017 to Question 108977, on Post Office Card Account, what the annual cost per customer is to the public purse of administering pensions and benefits payments through Post Office Accounts.
tabling member constituency	Central Ayrshire
tabling member printed	Dr Philippa Whitford
uin	116483
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2017 answer text <p>The information requested in respect of the cost per customer and cost per transaction is commercially sensitive.</p><p> </p><p>The total cost of administering pensions and benefits through post office card accounts over the life of the contract is £250.9m from December 2014 to November 2021.</p><p> </p><p>The administration of DWP pensions and benefit payments through bank accounts is managed under the HMRC Government Banking Service Money Transmission Services Contract. The total cost over the life of the contract to DWP is £14.8m from September 2016 to June 2023</p><p> </p><p>In line with our wider policy on financial inclusion we have always made it clear that payment into a bank, building society or credit union is the preferred way pension and benefits are paid. Access to appropriate mainstream financial services, that meet the customer’s needs, is important to support personal and financial independence. There are now fewer barriers to prevent people from using bank accounts. The nine largest personal current account providers in the UK are legally required to offer basic bank accounts to customers who do not have a bank account or who are ineligible for a bank’s standard current account, provided that the customer is legally resident in the EU. Basic bank accounts minimise the risk of unarranged overdrafts and end bank charges if a direct debit or standing order fails.</p><p><em> </em></p><p>The Department for Work and Pensions committed in 2014 to maintain Post Office card account until 2021, to ensure that these customers can continue to access their benefits and pensions in this way.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 116484 116486 116487 question first answered 04/12/2017 16:20:56 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4385 label Biography information for Dr Philippa Whitford

797521

registered interest
date	29/11/2017
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	Post Office Card Account
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 26 October 2017 to Question 108977, Post Office Card Accounts, what the cost per transaction is to the public purse of administering pensions and benefits payments through Post Office Accounts.
tabling member constituency	Central Ayrshire
tabling member printed	Dr Philippa Whitford
uin	116484
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/12/2017 answer text <p>The information requested in respect of the cost per customer and cost per transaction is commercially sensitive.</p><p> </p><p>The total cost of administering pensions and benefits through post office card accounts over the life of the contract is £250.9m from December 2014 to November 2021.</p><p> </p><p>The administration of DWP pensions and benefit payments through bank accounts is managed under the HMRC Government Banking Service Money Transmission Services Contract. The total cost over the life of the contract to DWP is £14.8m from September 2016 to June 2023</p><p> </p><p>In line with our wider policy on financial inclusion we have always made it clear that payment into a bank, building society or credit union is the preferred way pension and benefits are paid. Access to appropriate mainstream financial services, that meet the customer’s needs, is important to support personal and financial independence. There are now fewer barriers to prevent people from using bank accounts. The nine largest personal current account providers in the UK are legally required to offer basic bank accounts to customers who do not have a bank account or who are ineligible for a bank’s standard current account, provided that the customer is legally resident in the EU. Basic bank accounts minimise the risk of unarranged overdrafts and end bank charges if a direct debit or standing order fails.</p><p><em> </em></p><p>The Department for Work and Pensions committed in 2014 to maintain Post Office card account until 2021, to ensure that these customers can continue to access their benefits and pensions in this way.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman grouped question UIN 116483 116486 116487 question first answered 04/12/2017 16:20:56 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	4385 label Biography information for Dr Philippa Whitford