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802125

registered interest
date	06/12/2017
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	Social Security Benefits: Lone Parents
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he will consider immediately exempting from the benefit cap lone parents with children aged under two, in accordance with the verdict delivered by the High Court on 22 June 2017 in the case of DA and others v. the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	117812
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2017 answer text <p>DWP took the case of DA and others v. the Secretary of State to the Court of Appeal; it was important that we did so and we now await the judgment. Nothing changes and the benefit cap remains as it is while we await the outcome of the appeal.</p><p> </p><p>Many parents with young children are employed, which we encourage as it’s the best way to raise living standards. The benefit cap incentivises work, even if it’s part-time, as anyone eligible for working tax credits or the equivalent under Universal Credit, is exempt. Even with the cap, lone parents can still receive benefits up to the equivalent salary of £25,000, or £29,000 in London and we have made Discretionary Housing Payments available to people who need extra help.</p><p> </p><p>There is help available for childcare costs for children of any age. Claimants can recover up to 70% of their eligible childcare costs through working tax credits, or 85% of those costs through Universal Credit (in each case, up to a cap). Further assistance may be available through the Flexible Support Fund. Jobcentre Plus staff can help parents to find work that fits around childcare responsibilities and provide intensive support to lone parents.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage grouped question UIN 117813 question first answered 11/12/2017 17:01:42 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

802126

registered interest
date	06/12/2017
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	Social Security Benefits: Lone Parents
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to provide an update on his Department's appeal against the High Court ruling of June 2017 in the case of DA and others v. the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	117813
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2017 answer text <p>DWP took the case of DA and others v. the Secretary of State to the Court of Appeal; it was important that we did so and we now await the judgment. Nothing changes and the benefit cap remains as it is while we await the outcome of the appeal.</p><p> </p><p>Many parents with young children are employed, which we encourage as it’s the best way to raise living standards. The benefit cap incentivises work, even if it’s part-time, as anyone eligible for working tax credits or the equivalent under Universal Credit, is exempt. Even with the cap, lone parents can still receive benefits up to the equivalent salary of £25,000, or £29,000 in London and we have made Discretionary Housing Payments available to people who need extra help.</p><p> </p><p>There is help available for childcare costs for children of any age. Claimants can recover up to 70% of their eligible childcare costs through working tax credits, or 85% of those costs through Universal Credit (in each case, up to a cap). Further assistance may be available through the Flexible Support Fund. Jobcentre Plus staff can help parents to find work that fits around childcare responsibilities and provide intensive support to lone parents.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage grouped question UIN 117812 question first answered 11/12/2017 17:01:42 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

802133

registered interest
date	06/12/2017
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	Personal Independence Payment
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 an assessment of the implications for his policies of the findings of the Disability Benefits Consortium Survey, published in September 2017, that over 71 per cent of respondents found the Personal Independence Payments form hard or very hard to complete.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	117820
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2017 answer text <p>The PIP2 questionnaire, “How your disability affects you”, was co-produced with the assistance of disabled people, carers and organisations supporting them. The questionnaire is designed to allow Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants to tell us, in their own words, how their health condition or disability impacts them on a day-to-day basis. The questionnaire has a mixture of tick boxes and free text boxes allowing claimants to add as much or as little detail as they wish. We recognise that for some people the length of the questionnaire may seem intimidating. That is why we provide guidance notes to help them complete it and, following earlier concerns about time limits, introduced rules and procedures which allow claimants additional time to complete the form where that is reasonably required.</p><p>Recent independent research carried out by Ipsos MORI indicates that 85 per cent of claimants were able to complete all sections of the questionnaire and only four per cent were unable to do so. The research also shows that 63 per cent of claimants found completing the questionnaire as easy or easier than expected and 69 per cent agreed that it allowed them to explain how their condition affected them.</p><p>We constantly look to review and improve the experience of people claiming PIP. We are currently considering the recommendations made in the second independent review of PIP which included recommendations to improve our communications for claimants. We plan to respond to the review’s findings later this year.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 11/12/2017 11:41:07 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

802323

registered interest
date	06/12/2017
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	Work Capability Assessment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons work capability assessments are given greater weight than a GP's fit note when a Job Centre considers whether someone is able to search for work or undertake work-related activity.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	118010
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2017 answer text <p>Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit (UC) require GP Fit Notes to confirm that someone has a health condition or disability as part of their claim. The functional Work Capability Assessment (WCA) report advises a DWP decision maker whether the individual meets the limited capability for work (LCW) or limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) conditions set down in legislation.</p><p> </p><p>The key difference is that the fit note informs us that the claimant has a health condition or disability and the WCA outcome informs us of the impact that a health condition or disability has on the claimant’s capability for work.</p><p> </p><p>DWP decision makers use the WCA report, along with any other available evidence including the GP Fit Note, when determining entitlement to ESA and in determining if the claimant has LCW or has LCWRA, or does not have LCW – in other words, is fit for work.</p><p> </p><p>ESA and UC claimants who have LCW and LCWRA are, subject to certain exceptions, required to attend work-focused interviews and participate in work-related activity, the purpose of which is to improve their capability or readiness for work, with a view to helping their prospects of moving into work at a point when they are able. They cannot be required to search for or apply for work.</p><p> </p><p>Once a claimant has been notified of a LCW or LCWRA determination they are no longer required to provide GP Fit Notes unless they are providing evidence to support a change in their heath condition or disability.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 11/12/2017 17:34:56 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

802325

registered interest
date	06/12/2017
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, how many times Jobcentre Plus staff have applied the discretion defined in regulation 99 of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	118012
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2017 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 11/12/2017 13:10:02 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

802326

registered interest
date	06/12/2017
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, for what reasons Jobcentre Plus implementation of regulation 99 of the Universal Credit Regulations 2013 defaults to a 14-day unfit period rather than the number of days specified in a fit note.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	118013
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2017 answer text <p>Regulation 99 requires work search and work availability requirements to be suspended for up to 14 days to account for a period of sickness. Outside of these set periods, work coaches have the discretion to tailor work search and availability requirements taking into consideration the details on the fit note. Until the claimant has their Work capability Assessment, whilst they are in receipt of a fit note, we will not ask them to take up work.</p><p> </p><p>Regulation 99 applies for the first 2 spells of sickness in a rolling 12 month period. On the third and subsequent spells of sickness the work coach will apply discretion from the outset, taking into consideration the details on the fit note.</p> answering member constituency East Hampshire answering member printed Damian Hinds question first answered 11/12/2017 18:11:01 answering member 3969 label Biography information for Damian Hinds
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

802343

registered interest
date	06/12/2017
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	Local Housing Allowance
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 review the Local Housing Allowance and the effect it has on tenants living in the private rented sector.
tabling member constituency	Birmingham, Selly Oak
tabling member printed	Steve McCabe
uin	118030
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2017 answer text <p>The Government currently has no plans to review the Local Housing Allowance. The freeze to Local Housing Allowance rates was introduced from April 2016 and will apply until March 2020.</p><p> </p><p>As the Government recognises that the impact of this measure varies across the country, especially in areas of high rental growth a proportion of the savings from the Local Housing Allowance freeze are recycled to create Targeted Affordability Funding. This funding is used to increase LHA rates by 3 per cent in areas where local rents have diverged the most.</p><p> </p><p>Following the Budget Announcement on 22 November 2017, additional Targeted Affordability Funding will be made available. We will be increasing the funding for 2018/19 by £40 million and £85 million in 2019/20 and this will be based upon 50 per cent of the savings from the Local Housing Allowance freeze (instead of 30 per cent) which will enable more rates to be increased by 3 per cent.</p><p> </p><p>Further since 2011, the Government has provided around £900 million in Discretionary Housing Payments to local authorities to protect the most vulnerable claimants and support households affected by different welfare reforms including the freeze to Local Housing Allowance rates.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 11/12/2017 17:10:08 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	298 label Biography information for Steve McCabe

800922

registered interest
date	05/12/2017
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	Jobcentres: Telephone Services
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent representations he has received on the effect on benefit claimants of outsourcing jobcentre telephony work to Capita.
tabling member constituency	Coventry South
tabling member printed	Mr Jim Cunningham
uin	117481
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2017 answer text <p>In delivery of the JSA New Claim service the Provider has received and accepted complaints that equate to 0.003% of the total Customer interactions, which is comparable with services delivered internally.</p> answering member constituency Gosport answering member printed Caroline Dinenage question first answered 11/12/2017 16:56:21 answering member 4008 label Biography information for Dame Caroline Dinenage
tabling member	308 label Biography information for Mr Jim Cunningham

800923

registered interest
date	05/12/2017
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: Mental Illness
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 his Department's response to the consultation, Work, health and disability: improving lives, what plans his Department has to improve mental health training for frontline staff in each region of the UK.
tabling member constituency	East Kilbride, Strathaven and Lesmahagow
tabling member printed	Dr Lisa Cameron
uin	117482
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2017 answer text <p>We are committed to continuing to build work coach capability to deliver personalised and tailored support. All work coaches across the Jobcentre Plus network receive training on supporting people with health conditions and disabilities and we have developed an enhanced mental health training programme, which is now available in every country and region across the UK.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the roll out of the Health and Work Conversation across the UK supports work coaches to continue to build engagement with claimants with disabilities and health issues, backed by comprehensive new training which builds skills of empathy and active listening. We have also recruited new disability employment advisers and community partners who are in place in every country and region of the UK.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 11/12/2017 12:09:48 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4412 label Biography information for Dr Lisa Cameron

800933

registered interest
date	05/12/2017
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	Personal Independence Payment
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 assess the merits of implementing the Disability Benefits Consortium's recommendations on PIP assessors.
tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
uin	117492
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2017 answer text <p>We have read and considered the Disability Benefits Consortium's recommendations with regards to Health Professionals who carry out PIP assessments. Independent reviews form an important part of the learning process and we are constantly looking to improve the experience of claiming PIP. We recognise the scale of the challenge in implementing a new benefit so committed to two, statutory independent reviews of PIP. The latest of these reviews, led by Paul Gray, was published on 30 March 2017 and we plan to respond to this later this year.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Department encourages claimants to provide as much relevant evidence as necessary to support their claim. Before claimants are invited for a face-to-face consultation, all of the available evidence is reviewed and if, at that stage, advice to the Department can be made on this evidence alone, the claimants will not be required to attend a face-to-face assessment.</p><p>We continue to work extensively with the PIP assessment providers and disability representative groups to make improvements to guidance, training and audit procedures in order to ensure a quality service.</p> answering member constituency Truro and Falmouth answering member printed Sarah Newton question first answered 11/12/2017 17:29:43 answering member 4071 label Biography information for Sarah Newton
tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis