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1011497

registered interest
date	21/11/2018
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 and what proportion of universal credit claimants who have a level of deduction from the standard allowance have a reduction of (a) the 40 per cent cap and (b) above the 30 per cent level (c) above the 20 per cent level in the most recent month for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	194148
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>For eligible claims to Universal Credit Full Service due a payment in September 2018, 55% (490,000 claims) had a deduction (which may include for advances, sanctions, fraud penalties, and other deductions).</p><p>The information for claims with deductions above 20 per cent of their standard allowance is as follows:</p><p>a. 12% (61,000 claims) had deductions at 40% of the Standard Allowance (7% of all eligible claims)</p><p>b. 28% (138,000 claims) had deductions above 30% of the Standard Allowance (15% of all eligible claims)</p><p>c. 47% (232,000 claims) had deductions above 20% of their Standard Allowance (26% of all eligible claims).</p><p><strong>Notes: </strong><strong><br></strong>Claim numbers are rounded to the nearest 1,000</p><p>Claim numbers may not match official statistics caseloads due to methodological differences.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma grouped question UIN 194147 question first answered 26/11/2018 17:30:08 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1011501

registered interest
date	21/11/2018
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 universal credit claimants in employment have had a disputed earnings referral in respect of their claim in each month since April 2017.
tabling member constituency	Birkenhead
tabling member printed	Frank Field
uin	194074
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>I refer the Hon Member to the reply to Question 146120, which contains the information from May 2017 to April 2018. Information from May 2018 onwards can be seen in the table below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Month</p></td><td><p>May 2018</p></td><td><p>June 2018</p></td><td><p>July 2018</p></td><td><p>August 2018</p></td><td><p>Sept 2018</p></td><td><p>Oct 2018</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Number of claimants with disputes</p></td><td><p>3302</p></td><td><p>3348</p></td><td><p>4349</p></td><td><p>4946</p></td><td><p>3805</p></td><td><p>5737</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Caseload on Universal Credit</p></td><td><p>921,009</p></td><td><p>982,354</p></td><td><p>1,041,240</p></td><td><p>1,117,206</p></td><td><p>1,217,964</p></td><td><p>1,317,985</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Disputes as a proportion of total caseload</p></td><td><p>0.36%</p></td><td><p>0.34%</p></td><td><p>0.42%</p></td><td><p>0.44%</p></td><td><p>0.31%</p></td><td><p>0.44%</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p /><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 26/11/2018 16:00:53 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	478 label Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead

1011514

registered interest
date	21/11/2018
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, whether the maximum proportion of universal credit which can be deducted for claimant rent arrears will change as a result of Budget 2018.
tabling member constituency	Wirral West
tabling member printed	Margaret Greenwood
uin	194161
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>Although Autumn Budget 2018 announced a reduction (applying from October 2019) in the overall maximum rate of deductions from Universal Credit from 40% to 30%, the maximum proportion of Universal Credit which can be deducted for claimant rent arrears has not changed and remains between 10 and 20 per cent.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 26/11/2018 18:28:55 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4400 label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood

1011515

registered interest
date	21/11/2018
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, in what circumstances the repayment of an advance can be deducted from a claimant's universal credit in addition to the maximum proportion that can be deducted for other debts.
tabling member constituency	Wirral West
tabling member printed	Margaret Greenwood
uin	194162
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>There are no circumstances in which the repayment of an advance can be taken in excess of 40% of a claimant’s Universal Credit standard allowance.*</p><p> </p><p>From October 2019, we will reduce the maximum rate at which deductions can be made from a Universal Credit award from 40% to 30% of the standard allowance. This will ensure that those on Universal Credit are supported to repay debts in a more sustainable and manageable way. From October 2021, we will also increase the period over which advances will be recovered, from 12 to 16 months.</p><p> </p><p>* The addition of a subsequent deduction such as for rent, gas or electricity arrears may take the overall level of deductions to over 40% in a small number of cases. In these circumstances the advance repayments do not themselves take the claimant over the threshold, rather the additional deductions are made to protect claimant welfare by preventing disconnection or eviction.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 26/11/2018 17:30:26 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4400 label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood

1011516

registered interest
date	21/11/2018
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: 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 the average waiting time is for a person calling the universal credit helpline to be connected to an agent.
tabling member constituency	Wirral West
tabling member printed	Margaret Greenwood
uin	194163
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2018 answer text <p>Universal Credit is a 24 hour, seven day a week digital service that allows claimants to check their Universal Credit benefit payments, notify us of changes and record notes via an online journal facility. We also see claimants regularly face-to-face in jobcentres and they can contact us via the telephone outside of these appointments. In addition, this summer we introduced a new approach where established claimants who call the Universal Credit helpline are connected directly to the person or team who are dealing with the case.</p><p> </p><p>The average waiting time for a person calling the Universal Credit Full Service helpline in the month of October 2018 was 3 minutes and 58 seconds.</p><p> </p><p>Our Average Speed of Answer (ASA) measure is the average customer wait time from the point of entering a queue to connection to an agent. This excludes any time spent in pre-queue messaging and any wait time for calls ultimately abandoned by callers prior to answer.</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p> </p><p>Data Source: BT - OPMIS and Historical Management Information (GI2 – HMI)</p><p>Outsourced partner data is included.</p><p>The data supplied is derived from unpublished management information, which was collected for internal Departmental use only and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. The data should therefore be treated with caution.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 28/11/2018 10:31:50 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma previous answer version 87211 answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4400 label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood

1011518

registered interest
date	21/11/2018
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 proportion of new claimants for universal credit received (a) their initial payment in full and on time and (b) part of their initial payment on time in each month from 31 December 2017 to the most recent month for which figures are available.
tabling member constituency	Wirral West
tabling member printed	Margaret Greenwood
uin	194165
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>This information was published on 13 November 2018 as a Universal Credit official statistics release. It is available via the link below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/universal-credit-29-april-2013-to-11-october-2018" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/universal-credit-29-april-2013-to-11-october-2018</a></p><p> </p><p>In many cases where full payment is not made on time, it is due to unresolved issues such as: claimants not accepting their Claimant Commitment or passing identity checks, or having outstanding verification issues, such as housing costs and self-employed earnings.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 26/11/2018 17:26:03 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4400 label Biography information for Margaret Greenwood

1011573

registered interest
date	21/11/2018
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 (a) detailed analysis and (b) impact assessments she has undertaken in areas with full-service universal credit in place in order to inform the future roll-out of that policy.
tabling member constituency	Inverclyde
tabling member printed	Ronnie Cowan
uin	194190
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/11/2018 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question <a href="https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-question/Commons/2018-09-03/169858/" target="_blank">169858</a> on 11 September.</p><p> </p><p>In addition we have recently published the Social Security Advisory Committee response which includes a detailed analysis of Managed Migration which can be accessed at:</p><p><a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/753714/draft-universal-credit-managed-migration-regulations-2018-report.pdf" target="_blank">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/753714/draft-universal-credit-managed-migration-regulations-2018-report.pdf</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 29/11/2018 18:38:02 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4465 label Biography information for Ronnie Cowan

1011577

registered interest
date	21/11/2018
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the proportion of benefit claimants affected by the benefits cap who are required to seek employment as a condition of their claim.
tabling member constituency	Vale of Clwyd
tabling member printed	Chris Ruane
uin	194080
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>The official statistics show that 19% of households who had their Housing Benefit capped in August 2018 were claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance and as such are required to seek employment as a condition of their benefit receipt.</p><p> </p><p>The official statistics also show 51% of households who had their Housing Benefit capped in August 2018 were in receipt of Income Support. Those receiving Income Support and other benefits covered by the cap, are required to take steps towards work as part of their benefit entitlement and they are able to undertake some work. They are expected to attend regular work focussed interviews and undertake activities designed to help them prepare for and move closer to the labour market in return for the financial support they receive through the benefits system.</p><p> </p><p>Between April 2013 and August 2018, 70% (140,000) of households that have previously had their Housing Benefit capped are no longer capped at August 2018. Of these households, 52,000 were exempt with an open Working Tax Credit claim at the time they moved off the cap, indicating that they moved into work. This is 39% of those no longer capped.</p><p> </p><p>The department is unable to provide corresponding figures under Universal Credit. The Department published its Universal Credit experimental statistics future release strategy on the 12 June 2018 in response to the public consultation on future Universal Credit statistics, see <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-statistics-background-information/universal-credit-statistics-release-strategy" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-statistics-background-information/universal-credit-statistics-release-strategy</a>.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 26/11/2018 14:30:17 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	534 label Biography information for Chris Ruane

1011587

registered interest
date	21/11/2018
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: Disqualification
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her Department's policy is on sanctioning claimants of employment and support allowance for (a) refusing an offer of a zero-hours contract and (b) voluntarily terminating a zero-hours contract.
tabling member constituency	Airdrie and Shotts
tabling member printed	Neil Gray
uin	194196
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/11/2018 answer text <p>ESA claimants are not sanctioned if they refuse an offer of a job on a zero hours contract or voluntarily leave a zero hours contract job.</p> answering member constituency Reading West answering member printed Alok Sharma question first answered 26/11/2018 18:24:26 answering member 4014 label Biography information for Sir Alok Sharma
tabling member	4365 label Biography information for Neil Gray

1011598

registered interest
date	21/11/2018
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	Funeral Payments: Overpayments
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many overpayments of funeral payments her Department has recovered in 2018.
tabling member constituency	High Peak
tabling member printed	Ruth George
uin	194206
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/11/2018 answer text <p>We make low-cost funeral expense payments to people who receive (or whose partners receive) a qualifying benefit or Tax Credit. These are recoverable from the estate of the deceased, where possible, but we write most of them off as often there aren’t enough assets in the estate.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Debt Management can also recover any Funeral Expenses Payments that were paid incorrectly; e.g. where a payment was made as a result of a qualifying benefit being claimed incorrectly either as a result of claimant error or fraud.</p><p> </p><p>Whilst DWP does hold data regarding this type of overpayment the numbers are low, less than 15 in total for the period requested.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 194207 194208 194209 question first answered 28/11/2018 16:54:12 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4662 label Biography information for Ruth George