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1645539

registered interest
date	19/06/2023
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	Cost of Living Payments: Disability
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to increase the Disability Cost of Living Payment to support measures to keep people active.
tabling member printed	Lord Moynihan
uin	HL8610
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2023 answer text <p>We have no such plans. The value of the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment is set in primary legislation: the Social Security (Additional Payments) Act 2023 (<a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/7/contents" target="_blank">Social Security (Additional Payments) Act 2023 (legislation.gov.uk)</a>).</p><p> </p><p>I am pleased to say that the payments, worth an estimated total of £1.17bn once all payments have been made, started to be paid into the bank accounts of qualifying recipients from 20 June with over six million people expected to benefit. More than 6m disabled people have received a one-off £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment. People receiving a qualifying benefit will be paid automatically by 4 July.</p><p> </p><p>We estimate that nearly 60 per cent of individuals who receive an extra costs disability benefit will also receive the means-tested benefit Cost of Living Payments, worth up to £900. Over 85 per cent will receive either or both of the means-tested, and the £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 03/07/2023 13:31:13 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	924 label Biography information for Lord Moynihan

1645394

registered interest
date	16/06/2023
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: Children
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what is their latest assessment of the effect of the two-child limit to families on benefits in the UK.
tabling member printed	Baroness Kennedy of Cradley
uin	HL8569
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/07/2023 answer text <p>The two-child limit policy aims to introduce fairness between households claiming benefits and taxpayers who support themselves solely through work. Families on benefits should face the same financial choices when deciding to grow their family as those supporting themselves solely through work. A benefits structure adjusting automatically to family size is unsustainable. Child Benefit continues to be paid for all children in eligible families as well as an additional amount for any disabled children.</p><p> </p><p>Statistics related to the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children was published in July 2022 and can be accessed at <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/universal-credit-and-child-tax-credit-claimants-statistics-related-to-the-policy-to-provide-support-for-a-maximum-of-2-children-april-2022" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/universal-credit-and-child-tax-credit-claimants-statistics-related-to-the-policy-to-provide-support-for-a-maximum-of-2-children-april-2022</a></p><p> </p><p>Some key statistics from the link below are as follows:</p><p> </p><ul><li>From the latest published statistics on UC households, the majority of families on UC had fewer than three children (79%), with 21% of UC households with children having three or more children.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>In April 2022, there were 420,000 households on UC with 3 or more children, of these 56% were not receiving a child element/amount for at least one child (due to the policy to provide support for a maximum of two children).</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>In April 2022, there were 4.15 million households on UC, and there were a total of 1.3 million children living in a household that was not receiving a child element or amount for at least one child due to being affected by the policy.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>In April 2022, 17,000 households that had a third or subsequent child born on or after 6 April 2017 were in receipt of an exception.</li></ul> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 03/07/2023 12:02:01 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4303 label Biography information for Baroness Kennedy of Cradley

1644882

registered interest
date	14/06/2023
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: Deductions
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many, and what proportion, of Universal Credit claims were subject to deductions in the most recent month for which data is available, broken down by parliamentary constituency; how much was the (1) total, and (2) average, sum of deductions in each constituency; and what proportion of those sums was deducted to repay advance payments.
tabling member printed	Lord Field of Birkenhead
uin	HL8486
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/06/2023 answer text <p>The Government recognises the importance of supporting the welfare of claimants who have incurred debt. We seek to balance recovery of debt against not causing hardship for claimants and their families. Processes are in place to ensure deductions are manageable, and customers can contact the DWP Debt Management Team if they are experiencing financial hardship, to discuss a reduction in their rate of repayment, or a temporary suspension, depending on their financial circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>Since April 2021, we have reduced the normal maximum rate of deductions in Universal Credit from 40% to 25% of a claimant’s Standard Allowance. These positive measures were put in place to support claimants to manage financial difficulties.</p><p> </p><p>Advances are a claimant’s benefit entitlement paid early, allowing claimants to access 100% of their estimated Universal Credit payment upfront. They ensure nobody has to wait for a payment in Universal Credit, and those who need it are able to receive financial support as soon as possible. Claimants can receive up to 100% of their estimated Universal Credit award if required, resulting in 25 payments over a 24-month period. This is not a debt.</p><p> </p><p>The requested analysis of Universal Credit claims with a deduction in February 2023 by parliamentary constituency in Great Britain (GB) is provided in the separate spreadsheet.</p><p> </p><p>Data for February 2023 has been provided in line with the latest available Universal Credit Household Statistics.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 28/06/2023 16:22:13 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie attachment 1 file name PQHL8486 Data Table.xlsx title HL8486 data table
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1644883

registered interest
date	14/06/2023
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: Disqualification
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what is the current status of the two local pilots of early warning systems instead of immediate benefit sanctions that they launched in 2019.
tabling member printed	Lord Field of Birkenhead
uin	HL8487
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/06/2023 answer text <p>Evidence from a previous Early Warning trial in 2016 showed the cost of the warning system outweighed the benefits. Since then, we have completed two small-scale proofs of concept to test a simple warning process and currently have no plans to run another test.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 28/06/2023 14:15:31 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1644884

registered interest
date	14/06/2023
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: Medical Examinations
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what progress they have made on their plans to audio-record all assessments for disability benefit by default.
tabling member printed	Lord Field of Birkenhead
uin	HL8488
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2023 answer text <p>Audio recording is now available for face-to-face and telephone assessments with all the department’s assessment providers. These arrangements are publicised on providers’ websites and in the assessment invitation letters to claimants. The department remains committed to offering audio recording on an opt-in basis, giving claimants the choice of having their assessment recorded.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 22/06/2023 10:57:19 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1644885

registered interest
date	14/06/2023
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	Disability Living Allowance and Universal Credit: Work Capability Assessment
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what were (1) the average waiting times, and (2) the average length of waiting lists, for assessments for (a) Child Disability Living Allowance, and (b) the limited capability for work element of Universal Credit, for each of the most recent period of six months for which data are available.
tabling member printed	Lord Field of Birkenhead
uin	HL8489
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2023 answer text <p>In the case of Disability Living Allowance for children, the data is not available. Decisions are made on behalf of the Secretary of State by Case Managers from evidence supplied by parents and medical professionals, and do not require an assessment.</p><p> </p><p>In Universal Credit (UC) a claimant is only deemed to have limited capability for work after an assessment has been completed, and a decision made by a DWP decision maker. We have, therefore, interpreted part 2 of your question to mean the total number of UC claimants, who have been referred to the assessment provider, and are awaiting a Work Capability Assessment (WCA) in each of the most recent period of six months for which data are available.</p><p> </p><p>To manage the assessment service effectively, we hold the number of outstanding WCA referrals made to the assessment provider. The number of UC WCA referrals outstanding at the end of each month are shown in the table below:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>UC</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Oct-22</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Nov-22</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Dec-22</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Jan-23</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Feb-23</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Mar-23</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Total outstanding</p></td><td><p>227,000</p></td><td><p>222,000</p></td><td><p>215,000</p></td><td><p>204,000</p></td><td><p>192,000</p></td><td><p>180,000</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Please note:</strong></p><ul><li>All volumes have been rounded to the nearest 1000;</li><li>All of the above data is derived from contractual management information produced by the assessment providers; and</li><li>The above data is derived from unpublished management information which is collected for internal departmental use only and has not been quality assured to Official Statistics Publication Standards.</li></ul><p> </p><p>There will always be outstanding referrals in the assessment process, from those claimants, who have been asked to return a Capability for Work questionnaire and have yet to do so, through to those with an assessment scheduled in the coming weeks. The department closely monitors the levels of outstanding referrals. Not all of these cases will require the claimant to attend an assessment. Where there is already sufficient evidence to determine benefit entitlement, claims will be assessed on a paper basis.</p><p> </p><p>With regards to waiting times, the initial release of Official Statistics on UC WCA covers key metrics on the number of people on the UC health journey, as well as WCA decisions and outcomes. As set out in the published Release Strategy, we are taking a phased approach to development and publication of additional statistics accounting for the complexity of source data that is in discovery. Future releases are planned to include new/repeat claims, medical conditions, Mandatory Reconsiderations and Appeals, and clearance times.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 22/06/2023 10:56:44 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1644886

registered interest
date	14/06/2023
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	Personal Independence Payment: Appeals
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government (1) how many, and what proportion of, existing claimants receiving Personal Independence Payment Review forms in each of the past 12 months have (a) requested an extension, (b) had their request accepted, or (c) had their request rejected; (2) how many, and what proportion of, Personal Independence Payment Review forms issued in each of the past 12 months have been (a) returned on time, (b) returned late, and (c) not returned; and (3) how many, and what proportion of, claimants making a telephone call regarding a Personal Independence Payment Review form in the past 12 months have (a) waited on hold for longer than 60 minutes, or (b) had their call disconnected.
tabling member printed	Lord Field of Birkenhead
uin	HL8490
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/06/2023 answer text <p>We can confirm that the department holds some of the information requested. We have numbered your questions and our response to each, for ease of reference.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><ol><li><strong>Extensions to Review forms</strong></li></ol><p>The information requested (extensions and acceptance status) is not readily available, and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The department recognises the importance of claimants having the opportunity to provide information, and evidence about their disabilities, and health conditions, in their review forms in support of their awards, and there are existing provisions available that allow additional time, and support, to those who require it.</p><p> </p><p>For Personal Independence Payment (PIP), safeguards are already in place to allow for additional time for claimants to submit their Award Review 1 (AR1) form. Claimants can ask for additional time to complete their AR1 form and can do so on more than one occasion.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><ol start="2"><li><strong>Return of Review forms</strong></li></ol><p><br> The information requested for on-time and late AR1 form returns is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>Data for AR1 forms not returned has been provided in the table below. Data is available up to the end of April 2023, but since the default time allowance for returning an AR1 form is 40 days, the latest two months of data for AR1 forms issued have not been included. It is worth noting there are multiple reasons a form may not be returned within 40 days, or at all, without a resulting disallowance. For example, where a claimant has an additional support marker, or where an extension has been granted. On average, only 7% of claimants in the time period, who received AR1 forms, were disallowed for non-return.</p><p> </p><p>Table 1 below shows, for each of the latest 12 months of useable data, how many AR1 forms were issued and how many, and what proportion, were not returned by the end of available data. This will include claimants who have not returned their form, but have not been disallowed for the reasons explained previously.</p><p><br> Table 1: Number and proportion of AR1 forms not returned by 30<sup>th</sup> April 2023</p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Month AR1 form was issued</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Total number of AR1 forms sent out in month</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of AR1 forms not returned by 30th April 2023</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Proportion of AR1 forms not returned by 30th April 2023</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Mar 22</strong></p></td><td><p>42,600</p></td><td><p>12,900</p></td><td><p>30%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Apr 22</strong></p></td><td><p>42,800</p></td><td><p>11,300</p></td><td><p>26%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>May 22</strong></p></td><td><p>46,600</p></td><td><p>12,500</p></td><td><p>27%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jun 22</strong></p></td><td><p>48,600</p></td><td><p>12,200</p></td><td><p>25%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jul 22</strong></p></td><td><p>48,600</p></td><td><p>11,900</p></td><td><p>24%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Aug 22</strong></p></td><td><p>55,000</p></td><td><p>13,500</p></td><td><p>25%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Sep 22</strong></p></td><td><p>52,700</p></td><td><p>13,100</p></td><td><p>25%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Oct 22</strong></p></td><td><p>48,600</p></td><td><p>12,600</p></td><td><p>26%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Nov 22</strong></p></td><td><p>53,000</p></td><td><p>13,400</p></td><td><p>25%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Dec 22</strong></p></td><td><p>51,200</p></td><td><p>10,000</p></td><td><p>19%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jan 23</strong></p></td><td><p>60,200</p></td><td><p>15,000</p></td><td><p>25%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Feb 23</strong></p></td><td><p>49,500</p></td><td><p>14,300</p></td><td><p>29%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>Data Source: PIP Atomic Data Source (ADS)</p><p> </p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><ul><li>Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100;</li><li>Data for England and Wales only;</li><li>Data excludes claimants with special rules for the terminally ill.</li></ul><p><strong> </strong></p><ol start="3"><li><strong>Telephone calls regarding Review forms</strong></li></ol><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The information requested (telephony figures for those relating to AR1 forms) is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 27/06/2023 16:17:19 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1644896

registered interest
date	14/06/2023
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	Carer's Allowance: Young People
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to review the eligibility for Carer’s Allowance for young adult carers in England who are studying for more than 21 hours each week, to support them to stay in full-time education while managing their caring responsibilities.
tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
uin	HL8500
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/06/2023 answer text <p>Carer's Allowance was introduced principally to provide a measure of financial support and recognition for people who forgo the opportunity of full-time work in order to care for a severely disabled person for at least 35 hours a week. <br>    <br> The Government thinks it is right that people in full-time education should be supported by the educational maintenance system, via its range of loans and grants, and not the social security benefit system. That is why, as a general principle, full-time students are usually precluded from entitlement to income-related and income-maintenance benefits.</p><p /><p>There are currently no plans to change the full-time education rules for Carer’s Allowance, but carers are able to undertake part-time education and still receive Carer’s Allowance.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 22/06/2023 11:06:49 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1643896

registered interest
date	12/06/2023
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: Artificial Intelligence
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many automated decision-making systems are currently used by the Department of Work and Pensions (partially or wholly) to make decisions that affect people’s legal rights or entitlements; and how many of those have publicly available (1) equality impact assessments, and (2) data protection impact assessments.
tabling member printed	Lord Clement-Jones
uin	HL8379
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 23/06/2023 answer text <p>I refer the noble Lord to the answer given to <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2023-06-02/187258" target="_blank">PQ 187258</a> in relation to automated decision making systems in use by DWP.</p><p> </p><p>The department has robust processes to ensure ethical use and impact of data is considered, which includes Equality Impact Assessments and Data Protection Impact Assessments for large-scale transformative initiatives that involve personal data, aligned with data-ethics frameworks, codes of practice, and working principles for analytical communities within the department that work with personal data.</p><p> </p><p>However, we currently have no plans to publish further details of these services.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/personal-information-charter" target="_blank">The DWP’s Personal Information Charter (PIC)</a> ensures that its customers are aware of the DWP’s use of automated decision making.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 23/06/2023 11:02:02 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	3396 label Biography information for Lord Clement-Jones

1643919

registered interest
date	12/06/2023
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
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what are the current annual savings to the Exchequer provided by (1) the benefit cap, and (2) the two-child limit on social security payments.
tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
uin	HL8403
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/06/2023 answer text <p>The saving to the Exchequer provided by the benefit cap in 2021/22 – the latest year for which data are available - was £400m.</p><p> </p><p>For the policy that provides support for a maximum of 2 children in Universal Credit (UC) and Child Tax Credits, it is not possible to provide a current annual savings measure and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>In our previously published analysis on the cost of ending the policy that provides support for a maximum of 2 children in Universal Credit (UC) and Child Tax Credits over the period 19/20-23/24 we estimated that the cost of ending this policy to be around £5bn up to 23/24.</p><p> </p><p>The Government’s view is that providing support for a maximum of two children or qualifying young persons in Universal Credit and Child Tax Credit ensures fairness between claimants on the one hand and, on the other, those taxpayers who support themselves solely through work. Where they are able to, Individuals should consider whether they are financially prepared to support a new child without relying on benefits.</p><p> </p><p>We recognise that some claimants are not able to make the same choices about the number of children in their family, which is why exceptions have been put in place to protect certain groups. On migration to Universal Credit families’ existing entitlement will be protected, so long as they remain responsible for the same children and entitled to benefit.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 26/06/2023 17:00:05 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett