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<p /> <p>I refer the Noble Baroness to the oral answer given by the Secretary of State
for Work and Pensions, the Rt.Hon. Iain Duncan Smith, Official Report, 8 December
2014, column 633. He set out how the Department for Work and Pensions will be doing
much more to raise awareness of Short Term Benefit Advances (STBAs) as recommended
by the All-Party Parliamentary inquiry and others, including the Social Security Advisory
Committee. This will include providing more information to claimants about STBAs online
and in Jobcentres. Staff guidance on STBAs will also be updated and staff reminded
of the process for considering an STBA.</p><p> </p><p>A key part of the STBA process
is a discussion between the claimant and the Decision Maker to consider the circumstances
of the request and make an informed discretionary decision about the claimant’s needs.
Such a discussion needs to be had with the claimant and cannot be done online or with
a third party.</p><p> </p><p>Benefits are normally paid in arrears and where the Department
can pay any benefit due to the claimant it does. Where an STBA can be paid it is usually
paid the day after it is first requested by the claimant.</p><p> </p><p>The Government
believes the current system for claiming STBAs is simple. All claimants need to do
is mention to staff that they will not be able to manage until their payment is due
and the STBA process will start. However, the Government has accepted the need to
raise awareness of STBAs as set out above.</p><p> </p><p>The Government has made improvements
to the hardship process. In July 2014 it strengthened guidance for work coaches so
that all claimants are informed about how and when they can make an application for
hardship payment and processing times have also been improved.</p>
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