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1504767

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
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	Payment Exception Service
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason the maximum payment amount that can be collected in a single transaction using the Payment Exception Service at a Post Office or pay point outlet is set at £100 requiring some claimants to make multiple transactions to access the full amount of their benefits or pension.
tabling member constituency	Newport East
tabling member printed	Jessica Morden
uin	47482
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 17/09/2022 answer text <p>The most secure way to receive payment is through a bank account. For those customers who are unable to open or manage a bank, building society or credit union account, the DWP’s new Payment Exception Service has been designed as a simple service to ensure customers have access to cash. Vouchers are uploaded to a card or sent electronically via SMS text or email. A customer can print their emailed vouchers and present them to the retailer. The maximum amount of a voucher is £100 so a customer may receive more than one voucher on their payment due date. Customers must cash the full amount of the voucher but do not have to cash all of their vouchers at the same time. This is a similar process to when customers used to be issued with Order Books and Girocheques.</p><p> </p><p>Payment Exception Service vouchers can be encashed at over 26,000 PayPoint outlets nationally as well as Post Offices nationwide. The service provided by this contract meets DWP’s statutory requirement to ensure all customers can access payments, including where standard banking is not available to them.</p><p> </p><p>The £100 voucher amount represents a value that protects vulnerable customers from being required to withdraw and carry large sums and is one that the PayPoint Retailer network can support.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 17/09/2022 15:42:04 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	1548 label Biography information for Jessica Morden

1504798

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
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	Pension Credit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 11 July 2022 to Question 31232 on Pension Credit and the Answer of 11 July 2022 to Question 31233 on Pension Credit, what estimate she has made of the number of people eligible for Pension Credit who have not yet applied; and what assessment she has made of the potential reasons for people not applying for Pension Credit.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Wendy Chamberlain
uin	47660
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2022 answer text <p>The latest published estimates for the number of people eligible for Pension Credit relate to the financial year 2019 to 2020 and show that up to 850,000 pensioner households were eligible for but not claiming Pension Credit. These are available in the <em>Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up</em> publication which can be found on the statistics section of gov.uk. Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year 2019 to 2020 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</p><p> </p><p>Previous DWP research found that the main reason pensioners don’t claim Pension Credit is because they believe that they are not eligible – they may think they have too much income, have savings or own their own home. There does also appear to be a secondary barrier around perceived stigma. Further details are available in the 2012 Research report <em>Pension Credit eligible non-recipients: Barriers to claiming</em>. <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/214374/rrep819.pdf" target="_blank">Pension Credit eligible non-recipients: Barriers to claiming (publishing.service.gov.uk)</a></p><p> </p><p>That is why one of the main objectives of our Pension Credit awareness campaign has been to dispel the myths around perceived ineligibility. Our messaging has also emphasised that even a small award of Pension Credit can open the door to a range of other financial support, including help with rent, Council Tax and heating costs, a free TV licence for those 75 or over and help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments.</p><p> </p><p>It is also now more important than ever before to ensure that eligible pensioners claim Pension Credit, because a successful claim also qualifies them for the Cost of Living payments. That’s why the work to raise awareness of Pension Credit and increase take-up is ongoing.</p> answering member constituency Hertford and Stortford answering member printed Julie Marson question first answered 08/09/2022 16:50:09 answering member 4768 label Biography information for Julie Marson
tabling member	4765 label Biography information for Wendy Chamberlain

1504799

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
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	Second State Pension Age Independent Review
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to publish the outcome to the public consultation on the Second State Pension age review which closed on 25 April 2022; and if she will provide an interim update.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Wendy Chamberlain
uin	47661
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/09/2022 answer text <p>The call for evidence was undertaken by the Independent Reviewer. The Independent Review has not yet concluded and will be published in due course.</p> answering member constituency Hertford and Stortford answering member printed Julie Marson question first answered 08/09/2022 16:48:48 answering member 4768 label Biography information for Julie Marson
tabling member	4765 label Biography information for Wendy Chamberlain

1504847

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
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	Cost of Living Payments: Universal Credit
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their estimate of the number of Universal Credit claimants who did not qualify for the first cost of living additional payment because of the way their wages were paid during the qualifying month.
tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
uin	HL2136
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2022 answer text <p>We do not currently hold this information. We have deliberately kept the rules for these payments as simple as possible. This is the only way we can ensure that we can develop the systems and processes required to make these payments.</p><p> </p><p>Unfortunately, it is not possible to distinguish between those that have had a permanent increase to their earnings, and those whose earnings are temporarily fluctuating. If a UC claimant’s income subsequently falls, these claimants will return to having a positive award after the cut-off date and may be eligible for the second Cost of Living Payment, worth £324.</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 20/09/2022 16:01:49 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1504848

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
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	Carers: Employment
house id	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, and if so when, they will publish the research on barriers to carers’ employment mentioned in the letter from the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to the Chair of the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee, dated 15 July; and if not, why not.
tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
uin	HL2137
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/09/2022 answer text <p>We are currently considering the results from the research, and should we decide to publish any findings, we will of course ensure that they are made available to both Houses.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 20/09/2022 15:58:04 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1504850

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
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	2
legislature	25277 pref label House of Lords
question text	To ask Her Majesty's Government what would be the level of the benefit cap, set in 2016, if it had kept pace with (1) inflation, (2) average earnings, and (3) Universal Credit rates.
tabling member printed	Baroness Lister of Burtersett
uin	HL2138
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/09/2022 answer text <p>There is a statutory duty to review the levels of the cap at least once in every five years and this will happen at the appropriate time. The current unusual economic period with potentially counter intuitive and shifting trends will need to be considered in the context of any decision regarding a review.</p><p> </p><p>The benefit cap provides a strong work incentive and fairness for hard-working taxpaying households and encourages people to move into work, where possible. The Government firmly believes that where possible it is in the best interests of children to be in working households and the benefit cap provides a clear incentive to move into work.</p><p> </p><p>The table below shows the weekly benefit cap level if it had kept pace with (1) inflation and (2) average earnings. To provide the levels of the benefit cap had it kept pace with Universal Credit rates is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate costs.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Inflation</p></td><td><p>Average earnings</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London couples/lone parents</p></td><td><p>£496.51</p></td><td><p>£529.06</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>London single adult</p></td><td><p>£332.67</p></td><td><p>£354.47</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Excluding London couples/lone parents</p></td><td><p>£431.75</p></td><td><p>£460.05</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Excluding London single adult</p></td><td><p>£289.27</p></td><td><p>£308.23</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>The earnings and inflation measure used for uprating DWP benefits have been used.</p><p> </p><p>Inflation and earnings source: House of Commons, Benefit Uprating 2022/23, Table 5 (February 2022).</p> answering member printed Baroness Stedman-Scott question first answered 21/09/2022 14:26:13 answering member 4174 label Biography information for Baroness Stedman-Scott
tabling member	4234 label Biography information for Baroness Lister of Burtersett

1504890

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
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	Energy and Food: Prices
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has had recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential merits of providing funding to local authorities for the provision of (a) support and (b) infrastructure for (i) food and (ii) energy costs in winter 2022.
tabling member constituency	York Central
tabling member printed	Rachael Maskell
uin	47597
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/09/2022 answer text <p>The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and has taken further decisive action to support people with their energy bills. The new “Energy Price Guarantee” will mean a typical UK household will now pay up to an average £2,500 a year on their energy bill for the next two years from 1 October, saving the average household in Great Britain at least £1,000 a year based on current energy prices from October. This is in addition to the over £37bn of cost-of-living support announced earlier this year which includes the £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme.</p><p> </p><p>Included within this £37bn is an additional £500 million from October 2022 to help households with the cost of essentials, bringing the total funding for this support to £1.5 billion for the period October 2021- March 2023. In England, £421 million is being provided to extend the Household Support Fund, a discretionary scheme run by Upper Tier Local Authorities, from October 2022 to March 2023.</p><p> </p><p>The fund is principally intended to be used to support households with energy, food and water costs, although support with wider essentials can also be considered under the scope of the scheme. We know energy bills may be of particular concern to low-income households and so Local Authorities are being encouraged to focus on supporting households with the cost of energy.</p><p> </p><p>Guidance and individual local authority indicative allocations for this further extension to the Household Support Fund will be published in due course. The devolved administrations will receive £79 million through the Barnett formula.</p><p /> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 27/09/2022 10:14:20 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4471 label Biography information for Rachael Maskell

1504917

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
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	Long Covid
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the answer of 27 June 2022 to Question 21271 on Long Covid, what progress her Department has made on investigating whether COVID can be classified as an occupational disease.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	47620
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2022 answer text <p>The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (“IIAC”) advises Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on matters related to occupational diseases which may qualify for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit. IIAC has reviewed the evidence relating to the long-term consequences of COVID-19 infections and hopes to publish a report in the next few months focusing on those post-COVID complications arising from both COVID directly and/or treatment and for which there is sufficient evidence of loss of faculty and potential long-term disability.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 16/09/2022 14:20:18 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1504927

registered interest
date	05/09/2022
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	Cost of Living Payments: Housing Benefit
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to answer of 8 July 2022 to Question 26876 on Cost of Living Payments: Housing Benefit, what assessment he has been made of (a) how many people receiving housing benefit only are not receiving the £650 cost of living payment and (b) the sufficiency of the Household Support Fund to reach all those requiring additional support.
tabling member constituency	Hornsey and Wood Green
tabling member printed	Catherine West
uin	47623
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/09/2022 answer text <p>(A) How many people receiving HB only are not receiving the £650 Cost Of Living payment</p><p> </p><p>Approximately 100 thousand working-age HB claimants were not in receipt of a qualifying benefit or Tax Credit and so would not receive a cost of living payment of £650 paid in two lump sums of £326 and £324.</p><p> </p><p>There are a further 370 thousand pensioner HB claimants who were also not in receipt of any qualifying benefit but will receive the £300 Cost of Living payment paid through an increase to the Winter Fuel Payment.</p><p> </p><p>(B) What assessment has been made of the sufficiency of the Household Support Fund to reach all those requiring additional support.</p><p> </p><p>£842m has already been allocated to Local Authorities in England through the Household Support Fund to support those in need for the period October 2021- September 2022. Almost 9 million awards were given to those in need between October 2021 and March 2022 alone. A further £421m is being provided to extend the Household Support Fund from October 2022 to March 2023, taking the total funding for this support to over £1.2bn.</p><p> </p><p>Local Authorities have the ties and local knowledge to best determine how this support should be provided to their local communities, and they have the discretion to design their own local schemes to best meet local need, within the parameters of the grant determination and guidance for the fund.</p><p> </p><p>The Household Support Fund is just one part of a wider package of government support for the cost of living now totalling over £37bn this year.</p><p> </p><p /> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 27/09/2022 10:04:00 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4523 label Biography information for Catherine West

1503366

registered interest
date	02/09/2022
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	Motability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the value for money of the Government’s funding of Motobilty in the context of waiting times for recipients entitled to Motability Allowance to be assessed for a licence renewal.
tabling member constituency	Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney
tabling member printed	Gerald Jones
uin	45000
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2022 answer text <p>The Department works closely with Motability, and is responsible for the disability benefits that provide a passport to the Motability Scheme. Motability is an independent charitable organisation that is wholly responsible for the terms and the administration of the Scheme, along with oversight of Motability Operations. Motability benefits from government support through tax concessions and the direct payment of mobility allowances.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>There have been several external reports, including one by the National Audit Office (NAO) in December 2018, on the Motability Scheme. The Department agrees with the NAO’s finding that the Motability scheme provides an excellent service and that the Scheme is focused on delivering value for money. The Department continues to work with Motability the charity, who set the strategic policies and direction of the Scheme, to ensure that disabled people receive a value for money service with high standards for customer service.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is unable to comment on waiting times for licence renewal as this is outside our remit.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 16/09/2022 16:04:15 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
tabling member	4501 label Biography information for Gerald Jones