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93661

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he made of the effect of the introduction of contribution-based employment and support allowance on the income of people previously receiving disability living allowance or incapacity benefit.
tabling member constituency	Dudley North
tabling member printed	Ian Austin
uin	210661
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>The Department is currently reassessing most people on old-style incapacity benefits (Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, and Income Support where paid on the grounds of incapacity), to see if they are fit for work or eligible for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).</p><p>The structure of ESA and its rates of benefit and additions vary significantly from those of the incapacity benefits it is replacing. We have therefore given a commitment that no existing incapacity benefit claimant whose award qualifies for conversion to ESA will see a reduction in the level of their benefit entitlement at the point of change.</p><p>Where on conversion to ESA a claimant receives more by way of their existing incapacity benefit award than they otherwise would via ESA, the rate of their existing award will be frozen and they will be awarded a transitional addition on top of their ESA award, equivalent to the shortfall between the two rates. Where a claimant's ESA award includes such a top-up payment, the amount of benefit they get thereafter will not normally rise until the standard amount of ESA payable at the point of conversion increases (most commonly by virtue of annual up-ratings) by an amount equal to the amount of the top-up payment.</p><p>Where, on conversion to ESA, a claimant is entitled to less by way of their existing incapacity award than they are via ESA, their benefit will immediately be increased to the ESA rate payable.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 21/10/2014 11:21:20 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	1511 label Biography information for Lord Austin of Dudley

93662

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will provide support from the Access to Work scheme to people with mental health problems before (a) the offer of a job or (b) a job interview to ensure parity with people with other impairments.
tabling member constituency	Stretford and Urmston
tabling member printed	Kate Green
uin	210637
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p>Whilst Access to Work has recently been extended to support some pre-employment activity such as Supported Internships, Traineeships and work experience, it is primarily designed to support those in work or those about to start work. AtW can however provide communication support at interviews including with advocacy to assist people with mental health conditions.</p><p> </p><p>Programmes such as Work Programme and Work Choice are designed to help people who are seeking work, including those with mental health conditions.</p><p> </p><p>Support for transport costs to attend a job interview would not be provided by Access to Work, however Work Coaches are able to access the Flexible Support Fund where they identify transport costs as a barrier to work</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 21/10/2014 11:56:45 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	4120 label Biography information for Kate Green

93664

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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	Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the effect of a claimant becoming self-employed is on awards of housing benefit.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	210726
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>The effect of starting self-employment on Housing Benefit will depend on the local authority’s assessment of the claimant’s income, or likely level of income, from the self-employment.</p><p> </p><p>Guidance on how to assess self-employed income is in Chapter BW2 of the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual, specifically in paragraphs W2.310 onwards. A link is provided below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 20/10/2014 15:33:40 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

93665

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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	Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it is his Department's policy that an award of housing benefit should be suspended when Permitted Work is reported as a change of circumstance.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	210727
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>Guidance to local authorities on permitted work and how it affects Housing Benefit is provided in the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual, Chapter BW2, specifically paragraphs W2.141 and following. A link is provided below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>There is no specific suspension rule relating to permitted work cases. Decision makers have general powers to suspend any payment of Housing Benefit, in whole or part, when there is an issue about whether the conditions for entitlement are or were fulfilled, or a question arises about whether a decision to award HB should be revised or superseded. This might be exercised where, for example, the decision maker needs further information from the claimant in order accurately to assess Housing Benefit entitlement. It is not an obligatory power; the decision maker may decide whether or not to suspend, based on the circumstances of the case. Guidance is in the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual, Chapter C8. A link is provided below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236976/hbgm-c8-suspension-and-termination.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236976/hbgm-c8-suspension-and-termination.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 210724 210725 question first answered 20/10/2014 15:22:29 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

93666

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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	Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the time limit is for local authority decisions on determining reported changes of circumstances.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	210728
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>There is no time limit set by Central Government for this. The latest published data for average Speed of Processing for change of circumstances for 2013/14 is 9 days.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 20/10/2014 13:47:21 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

93667

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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	Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, under what circumstances local authorities are permitted to suspend housing benefit payments.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	210724
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>Guidance to local authorities on permitted work and how it affects Housing Benefit is provided in the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual, Chapter BW2, specifically paragraphs W2.141 and following. A link is provided below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>There is no specific suspension rule relating to permitted work cases. Decision makers have general powers to suspend any payment of Housing Benefit, in whole or part, when there is an issue about whether the conditions for entitlement are or were fulfilled, or a question arises about whether a decision to award HB should be revised or superseded. This might be exercised where, for example, the decision maker needs further information from the claimant in order accurately to assess Housing Benefit entitlement. It is not an obligatory power; the decision maker may decide whether or not to suspend, based on the circumstances of the case. Guidance is in the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual, Chapter C8. A link is provided below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236976/hbgm-c8-suspension-and-termination.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236976/hbgm-c8-suspension-and-termination.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 210725 210727 question first answered 20/10/2014 15:22:29 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

93668

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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	Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department gives to local authorities on steps to take when a claimant of housing benefit who retains an award of employment and support allowance reports a change of circumstance in the form of Permitted Work.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	210725
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p>Guidance to local authorities on permitted work and how it affects Housing Benefit is provided in the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual, Chapter BW2, specifically paragraphs W2.141 and following. A link is provided below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236962/hbgm-bw2-assessment-of-income.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p>There is no specific suspension rule relating to permitted work cases. Decision makers have general powers to suspend any payment of Housing Benefit, in whole or part, when there is an issue about whether the conditions for entitlement are or were fulfilled, or a question arises about whether a decision to award HB should be revised or superseded. This might be exercised where, for example, the decision maker needs further information from the claimant in order accurately to assess Housing Benefit entitlement. It is not an obligatory power; the decision maker may decide whether or not to suspend, based on the circumstances of the case. Guidance is in the Housing Benefit Guidance Manual, Chapter C8. A link is provided below.</p><p> </p><p><a href="http://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236976/hbgm-c8-suspension-and-termination.pdf" target="_blank">www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/236976/hbgm-c8-suspension-and-termination.pdf</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 210724 210727 question first answered 20/10/2014 15:22:29 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

93669

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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	Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether housing benefit claimants who have become self employed must use a self employment declaration form, as the means of reporting that information.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	210729
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Whilst it is for the DWP to set Housing Benefit policy, local authorities have a statutory duty to undertake day-to-day administration and pay claimants.</p><p> </p><p>It would be for local authorities to determine how they obtain the information they need from claimants who undertake permitted work on a self-employed basis or who have started self-employment.</p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb grouped question UIN 210730 question first answered 21/10/2014 13:18:21 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

93671

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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	Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, who is responsible for repaying an overpayment of housing benefit in cases where the local authority makes that payment direct to a landlord.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	210731
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p>Responsibility for recovery of Housing Benefit overpayments lies with the Local Authority who paid the Housing Benefit and now seek to recover it. They will make the decision firstly on whether it is an overpayment and secondly whether it is recoverable and from whom it is recoverable.</p><p> </p><p>The legislation provides for instances of recovery of housing benefit overpayments direct from the landlord where it has been paid to the landlord as long as the overpayment is recoverable and the Local Authority has decided to recover it.</p><p> </p><p>However, if the overpayment arose as a result of a misrepresentation or a failure to disclose a material fact by the tenant, or an appointee, then it can only be recovered from the person who misrepresented or failed to disclose i.e. the tenant or the appointee. The legislation also covers a number of other instances where recovery could not be sought from the landlord.</p> answering member constituency Forest of Dean answering member printed Mr Mark Harper question first answered 21/10/2014 11:43:59 answering member 1520 label Biography information for Mr Mark Harper
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey

93672

registered interest
date	15/10/2014
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
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what arrangements his Department makes for disabled people to contact his Department by email.
tabling member constituency	Vauxhall
tabling member printed	Kate Hoey
uin	210732
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/10/2014 answer text <p /> <p /> <p /> <p>The Department makes reasonable adjustments for disabled people to use alternative communication channels where appropriate, including email.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Thornbury and Yate answering member printed Steve Webb question first answered 20/10/2014 13:54:11 answering member 220 label Biography information for Steve Webb
tabling member	210 label Biography information for Baroness Hoey