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1676135

registered interest
date	06/12/2023
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	Access to Work Programme
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what is the estimated average time span from application to payment for employment support providers seeking help from the Access to Work scheme.
tabling member printed	Lord Touhig
uin	HL954
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2023 answer text <p>We do not routinely collect data on the funding provided directly to employment support providers. Access to Work funding is, in most cases, paid directly to the customer, unless the customer requests that the funding is paid directly to an employment support provider.</p><p> </p><p>Access to work has recruited additional staff to ensure a high level of customer service. The digital payments portal was introduced in June 2023 and is available for all customers that choose to claim online.</p><p> </p><p>Access to Work has received significant increase in payment claims over the last year and have recruited new staff to meet the increased demand and reduce the time it takes to make payments<strong>.</strong></p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie grouped question UIN HL955 HL957 question first answered 14/12/2023 16:33:25 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	542 label Biography information for Lord Touhig

1676136

registered interest
date	06/12/2023
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	Access to Work Programme: Administrative Delays
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any delays, and the reasons for such delays, in paying funds to employment support providers who have successfully applied for help from the Access to Work scheme.
tabling member printed	Lord Touhig
uin	HL955
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/12/2023 answer text <p>We do not routinely collect data on the funding provided directly to employment support providers. Access to Work funding is, in most cases, paid directly to the customer, unless the customer requests that the funding is paid directly to an employment support provider.</p><p> </p><p>Access to work has recruited additional staff to ensure a high level of customer service. The digital payments portal was introduced in June 2023 and is available for all customers that choose to claim online.</p><p> </p><p>Access to Work has received significant increase in payment claims over the last year and have recruited new staff to meet the increased demand and reduce the time it takes to make payments<strong>.</strong></p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie grouped question UIN HL954 HL957 question first answered 14/12/2023 16:33:25 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	542 label Biography information for Lord Touhig

1674989

registered interest
date	04/12/2023
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	Local Housing Allowance
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential benefits of ending the freeze in Local Housing Allowance rates before April 2024.
tabling member printed	The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford
uin	HL809
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2023 answer text <p>As announced by the Chancellor in the recent Autumn Statement, the Government will be investing £1.2 billion in 24/25 increasing LHA rates to the 30th percentile of local market rents. This is a significant investment of over £7 billion over the next five years.</p><p> </p><p>Secondary legislation is required for this increase, which will be laid in January and will come into force by 31st January 2024. This allows the Department for Work and Pensions and local authorities sufficient time to implement the rates from April 2024 and ensure claimants are paid accurately. Increases to other benefits also apply from April 2024 onwards.</p><p> </p><p>For those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and need further support Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities. Since 2011 the Government has provided nearly £1.7 billion in DHP funding to local authorities.</p><p><em> </em></p><p>Since October 2021, Government has provided over £2 billion to local authorities in England via the Household Support Fund (HSF) for them to provide discretionary support with the cost of essentials to those most in need. As with all government spending in England, the HSF has led to consequential increases in Barnett funding, which the Devolved Administrations can spend at their discretion.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 12/12/2023 13:43:21 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4922 label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of Chelmsford

1674515

registered interest
date	30/11/2023
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, in the most recent period of 12 months for which data are available, how many benefit claims were cancelled or suspended while third-party accusations about claimants' circumstances were investigated, what proportion of those claims were fully reinstated following an investigation, and what was the average length of time taken to investigate those claims.
tabling member printed	Lord Field of Birkenhead
uin	HL760
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 12/12/2023 answer text <p>DWP values the role played by members of the public in reporting suspected fraud and takes appropriate action in relation to all such allegations. However, we do not hold information regarding the number of such cases suspended or closed whilst a fraud investigation is ongoing.</p><p> </p><p>A claim would only be suspended whilst investigations are ongoing where there is strong intelligence/evidence that benefit entitlement is in doubt. The claimant would be informed of the specific reason for this, with all decisions on suspension being made in accordance with legislation and case law.</p><p> </p><p>Such decisions are not taken lightly but are important in ensuring not only that losses to the public purse as a result of suspected fraud are minimised, but also in ensuring that the individual concerned does not incur potentially large benefit overpayments that they might later be required to repay.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 12/12/2023 13:42:53 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1673020

registered interest
date	27/11/2023
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	State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 26 October (HL10597), in how many countries there is a legal requirement to uprate the UK State Pensions paid to those UK pensioners who live there; and which countries they are.
tabling member printed	Lord Wasserman
uin	HL637
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2023 answer text <p>The UK State Pension is payable worldwide to those who meet the qualifying conditions, without regard to nationality, and the amount is based on an individual’s National Insurance record. UK State Pensions are up-rated overseas only where there is a legal requirement to do so. The Government has no plans to change this policy.</p><p> </p><p>People who live outside the UK will not receive an increase in their State Pension unless they live in:</p><p>- an EEA country or Switzerland; or</p><p>- a country with which DWP have a reciprocal agreement that allows for it. These countries are:</p><ul><li>Barbados</li><li>Bermuda</li><li>Gibraltar</li><li>Guernsey</li><li>The Isle of Man</li><li>Israel</li><li>Jamaica</li><li>Jersey</li><li>Mauritius</li><li>the Philippines</li><li>Turkey</li><li>The United States of America, and</li><li>the separate republics of the former Yugoslavia* that are not EU Member States (Bosnia and Herzegovina; Kosovo; Montenegro; North Macedonia; and Serbia).</li></ul><p>*Following the break-up of Yugoslavia, the UK agreement with former Yugoslavia now covers Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 01/12/2023 14:59:50 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4207 label Biography information for Lord Wasserman

1673021

registered interest
date	27/11/2023
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	State Retirement Pensions: Canada
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Viscount Younger of Leckie on 26 October (HL10597), when they last had discussions with the government of Canada about uprating UK State Pensions paid to UK pensioners residents in that country; and what was agreed at that meeting.
tabling member printed	Lord Wasserman
uin	HL638
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/12/2023 answer text <p>The Government of Canada last raised this issue during a meeting on 17 April 2023. Following this meeting, the UK Government reiterated in writing that it is not intending to change the existing social security relationship with Canada under the arrangements made in 1995 and 1998.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 11/12/2023 16:30:35 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4207 label Biography information for Lord Wasserman

1673033

registered interest
date	27/11/2023
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	Artificial Intelligence: Redundancy
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the economic and societal risks of generative AI, including a potential increase in unemployment as a result of automation of work, the prospect of increased need for public support to individuals and welfare payments.
tabling member printed	Baroness Moyo
uin	HL626
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/12/2023 answer text <p>DWP is aware that the increased use of Artificial Intelligence may impact the labour market, affecting the nature and types of jobs available to workers in different sectors and regions in a way that is difficult to accurately forecast.</p><p> </p><p>The UK labour market is fluid and dynamic, and an average of 900,000 employed people per quarter moved from one job to another over the last year. As yet, we have yet to see any evidence of significant job displacement that can be directly attributed to AI.</p><p> </p><p>However, we are mindful of the potential risk of job displacement and our Jobcentre offer is designed to support claimants who need to transition to new roles by providing them with tailored, flexible advice.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 06/12/2023 13:36:57 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	4968 label Biography information for Baroness Moyo

1672768

registered interest
date	23/11/2023
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: Anxiety and Mental Health
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government how many people are currently claiming disability benefit because of mental health conditions, including severe anxiety.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL554
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/12/2023 answer text <p>Figures for the number of people currently claiming disability benefits – Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), and Attendance Allowance (AA) due to mental health conditions.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Table (a) – Claimants on the PIP caseload with mental health conditions</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Benefit </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of cases </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>PIP</p></td><td><p>1,119,500</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Table (b) – Claimants on the DLA caseload with mental health conditions</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Benefit </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of cases </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>DLA</p></td><td><p>56,500</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong>Table (c) – Claimants on the AA caseload with mental health conditions</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Benefit </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Number of cases </strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>AA</p></td><td><p>26,500</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Notes: </strong></p><ul><li>These figures are produced using recent data available from Stat-Xplore (May 2023).</li><li>Figures for PIP and DLA exclude Scotland.</li><li>Figures for AA include Scotland (as AA has yet to be devolved to Scotland).</li><li>Figures for PIP are cases where psychiatric disorders have been listed as the claimant’s main disabling condition.</li><li>A PIP claimant’s main disabling condition is recorded during their assessment. Medical conditions are shown as recorded on the PIP Computer System (PIPCS).</li><li>Claimants may have multiple conditions which are not recorded by PIPCS.</li><li>All volumes have been rounded to the nearest 100.</li><li>Figures for DLA and AA are cases where psychosis, psychoneurosis, or personality disorder have been recorded as the claimant’s main disabling condition.</li><li>Main disabling condition is the main medical reason for the claim. Medical conditions are sourced from information recorded on the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) computer system (DLACS) and AA computer system.</li><li>Claimants may have multiple conditions which are not recorded by DLACS or the AA computer system.</li></ul><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 01/12/2023 15:00:40 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1672769

registered interest
date	23/11/2023
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: Mental Health
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the efficacy of removing benefits from, and applying sanctions to, claimants with mental health conditions after 18 months in the context of their ‘Back To Work’ plan launched on 16 November.
tabling member printed	The Marquess of Lothian
uin	HL555
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/12/2023 answer text <p>Claimants must meet certain requirements to receive their UC payment. These will be based on individual and household information and will take account of health, caring responsibilities, ongoing work or volunteering and any earnings. All requirements are set in discussion with the claimant and tailored to their capability and circumstances, making them realistic and achievable.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants are given every opportunity to explain why they failed to meet their agreed conditionality requirement before a decision is made. We recognise the importance of understanding how a mental health condition impacts someone’s ability to search for or prepare for work. Claimants with serious mental health conditions are typically placed in the No Work-Related Requirements regime and are exempt from any form of conditionality and sanctions.</p><p> </p><p>As announced in the Back to Work plan, individuals, following their completion of Restart, will have a Claimant Commitment review meeting with their work coach where new requirements will be set according to the claimants’ circumstances. Claimants will be expected to accept this revised Claimant Commitment in order to continue to receive their benefits. Should a claimant fail to accept their commitment within the 7-day period their claim will be closed as per the current process.</p><p> </p><p>Where a claimant in a conditionality regime fails to comply with a mandatory work-related requirement, they have the opportunity to provide good reason before a sanction decision is made. Additionally, a pre-referral quality check is in place to check for any known vulnerabilities before a claimant is referred for a sanction decision and following a referral, cases are reviewed to ensure that the mandatory requirement set was fair, and to check whether a conditionality easement should have been applied.</p><p>If a sanction is applied and the claimant disagrees with the decision, they can ask for this to be looked at again by way of a Mandatory Reconsideration. If they further disagree with the outcome of the Mandatory Reconsideration, they can raise an appeal for the sanction decision to be looked at by an independent tribunal.</p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 06/12/2023 13:20:56 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	259 label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian

1672791

registered interest
date	23/11/2023
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: Chronic Illnesses and Disability
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Autumn Statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 22 November where he stated that if jobseekers "choose not to engage with the work search process for six months, we will close their case and stop their benefits" (HC Deb col 336), what steps they are taking to support individuals with health conditions and disabilities in finding employment.
tabling member printed	Lord Taylor of Warwick
uin	HL577
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 06/12/2023 answer text <p>We are investing £2.5 billion over the next five years in our ‘Back to Work Plan’; this builds on the Government's existing package of support to create a more inclusive and productive labour market that helps disabled people, and people with health conditions, to start, stay and succeed in work. This support includes: a new WorkWell service to join up employment and health support at a local level, reforming the Fit Note process, delivering the Universal Support employment programme, improving the quality of occupational health for employers, and expanding access to mental health services.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Autumn Statement, we also announced the intention to close the claim of those who have been disengaged for 6-months or more, where they are in receipt of a nil Universal Credit award following a sanction decision. We will not be closing the claims of anyone who is in receipt of other Universal Credit elements, such as the disability, child, or housing element. The conditionality and sanctions regime also does not apply to those in the No Work Related Requirements, such as those with a severe health condition or disability.</p><p> </p><p>For claimants who must meet certain work-related requirements to receive their Universal Credit payment, these requirements will be based on individual and household information and will take account of health, caring responsibilities, ongoing work or volunteering, and any earnings. Furthermore, all requirements are set in discussion with the claimant and tailored to their capability and circumstances, making them realistic and achievable.</p><p> </p> answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie question first answered 06/12/2023 15:36:17 answering member 4169 label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie
tabling member	1796 label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick