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1237041

registered interest
date	23/09/2020
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, what steps her Department is taking to increase uptake of pension credit; and if she will put in place a strategy to achieve full uptake of that benefit.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	94388
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/09/2020 answer text <p>While over 1.5 million pensioners currently receive Pension Credit, the Government wants to make sure that all pensioners eligible can claim the Pension Credit to which they are rightly entitled. That is why in February this year we launched a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of Pension Credit and help dispel some of the misconceptions that people might have about Pension Credit eligibility. We wanted to make it clear that having savings, a pension or owning a home are not automatic barriers to receiving Pension Credit. We also wanted to highlight that even a small award of Pension Credit can provide access to a range of other benefits such as help with rent, council tax reduction schemes, heating costs and for those aged 75 or over a free television licence.</p><p> </p><p>We are also continuing to work with our stakeholders to help spread the key messages from the campaign because we know that often the best ways to reach eligible pensioners is through trusted stakeholders working in the community. Our online Pension Credit toolkit (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit</a>) has been updated with the recent awareness campaign materials to supplement the resources it already contains for those working with pensioners, such as guides to Pension Credit and information designed to help older people understand how they could get Pension Credit.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>In May this year we launched an online claim service for Pension Credit to supplement the existing telephone and postal claim services (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit</a>). The new online service enables pensioners to apply for Pension Credit at a time that suits them. Around 50% of new claims to Pension Credit are currently being made using the service and more than 34,000 online claims have been made since it was launched. https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 28/09/2020 15:09:32 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1236205

registered interest
date	21/09/2020
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: Rents
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to permit the direct payment of rent to landlords at any point during a universal credit claim to support the budget management of claimants.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	92756
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>Alternative Payment Arrangements (APAs), such as a Managed Payment to Landlord (MPtL), are already available to enable the housing costs element to be paid directly to the landlord if the tenant is likely to have difficulty in managing their rent payments or is in rent arrears. APAs can be considered at any point during a claim to Universal Credit and the decision to implement one is assessed on a case by case basis.</p><p>Our Work Coaches and Case Managers gauge claimants’ financial needs from their first interview. For those who need help with budgeting, we can signpost additional support, for example through the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), who can help with personal budgeting and money management through its free helpline, printed guides and digital guidance.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 24/09/2020 15:42:23 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1236210

registered interest
date	21/09/2020
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 steps she is taking to help minimise the number of evictions of people in receipt of universal credit as a result of rent arrears.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	92757
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/09/2020 answer text <p>Claimants may find themselves in rent arrears for a variety of reasons, many of which can pre-date their claim to Universal Credit. The Department encourages people out of work, or on a low income, to consider whether claiming Universal Credit could provide them with additional support before issues, such as debt, spiral out of control. We promote Universal Credit through various external channels, including through the ‘Understanding Universal Credit’ website, to help people navigate the range of support available and provide information about how to apply.</p><p> </p><p>Our own analysis shows that Universal Credit in fact reduces debts, such as rent arrears. Supporting research carried out by the National Federation of Arm's-length Management Organisations (ALMOs), shows over three quarters of their tenants come onto Universal Credit with pre-existing rent arrears. It also shows that arrears tend to increase prior to making a claim for Universal Credit, and that Universal Credit actually appears to be helping to clear arrears over time.</p><p> </p><p>Recent changes to Universal Credit include temporarily increasing the standard allowance by up to £1,040 per year and increasing the Local Housing Allowance rates, including the Shared Accommodation element, so that it covers the lowest 30% of local market rents benefiting over one million households by £600 a year on average. These measures form part of an unprecedented increase to welfare spending of £9.3 billion following the outbreak of COVID-19.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has also delivered a number of improvements to support claimants during their first assessment period, such as removing waiting days and paying those claimants moving from Housing Benefit on to Universal Credit a two week ‘transitional housing payment’. Since July 2020, an additional two-week run has been introduced to assist eligible claimants moving from Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance (IR) and Jobseeker’s Allowance (IB). Advance payments are available so nobody has to wait five weeks for payment.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 24/09/2020 16:58:23 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1232801

registered interest
date	09/09/2020
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	Department for Work and Pensions: Health and Safety
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether a health and safety committee will be formed for the Benton Park site, where a request has been made under Regulation 9 of the Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations 1977 by two safety representatives.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	87535
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/09/2020 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions is fully committed to its collaborative approach with Trade Union representatives and to meeting Health and Safety legislative requirements; as such it has a full Safety Committee Structure in place that includes the provision for such a meeting to be held in relation to the Benton Park site, and does so.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 14/09/2020 16:43:28 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1226799

registered interest
date	21/07/2020
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	Jobcentres: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with trade unions on the reopening of job centres in (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	77566
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>Jobcentres have remained open to support our most vulnerable claimants throughout this pandemic, providing a service, in accordance with PHE and Devolved Government guidelines on social distancing, to vulnerable claimants unable to access our services through digital/telephony channels.</p><p> </p><p>We are currently completing a programme of implementing safety measures, including provision of screens and signage, across our Jobcentres allowing us to extend our face to face service. We remain open for those who need us but will continue to minimise the requirement for customers to travel to our Jobcentres, conducting the majority of interactions digitally or by phone.</p><p> </p><p>The department has widely discussed plans to extend our face to face service with Trade Union at National, Regional and local levels</p><p> </p><p>We have been in regular dialogue with the unions on the reopening of Jobcentres nationally over the last few weeks. We held a meeting with DTUS on plans for Scotland on Monday 13th July. This was at short notice in response to TU concerns that this was being pursued without proper consultation.</p><p> </p><p>We then wrote to DTUS on 15th July with further detail on planning for the roll-out in both Scotland and Wales. We continue to meet with DTUS twice weekly so there is a regular opportunity for further discussion where needed.</p><p> </p><p><em>Please note that the DWP is only responsible for benefits in Great Britain. Social security benefits are a devolved matter in Northern Ireland. Questions about benefits in Northern Ireland should be directed to the Department of Communities in Northern Ireland</em></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 01/09/2020 14:19:26 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1226800

registered interest
date	21/07/2020
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: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the job finding support service referred to in paragraph 2.19 of the Chancellor’s Plan for Jobs, published on 8 July 2020, will be provided by (a) current work coaches or (b) put out to tender.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	77567
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>The Department for Work and Pensions plans to carry out a commercial exercise, compliant with public procurement regulations. More details will be announced in due course.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 01/09/2020 14:25:53 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1226801

registered interest
date	21/07/2020
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	Jobcentres: Training
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the (a) duration and (b) delivery method of training for new work coaches will be as covid-19 lockdown restrictions are eased.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	77568
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>DWP is committed to providing new Work Coaches with the technical knowledge, skills and behaviours to be able to provide a high quality service to our claimants.</p><p> </p><p>The current methodology follows a learn, consolidate, learn approach through virtual classroom delivery by learning development officers, followed by consolidation in the live working environment.</p><p> </p><p>The end to end Work Coach learning journey is 52 days, consisting of 32 days in virtual in class learning, delivered over 5 parts, with 20 days’ consolidation with the business split between each in class period.</p><p> </p><p>We are though reviewing our learning approach for Work Coaches through the summer to see if there are alternative approaches that could enhance the learning.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 01/09/2020 14:09:41 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1226802

registered interest
date	21/07/2020
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	Jobcentres: Staff
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether contracts for new work coaches in her Department will be (a) full-time or part-time and (b) short-term or permanent.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	77569
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/09/2020 answer text <p>DWP will offer Work Coach roles on both a full-time and part-time basis, in line with the DWP flexible working policy.</p><p> </p><p>Recruitment will be a blend of permanent roles, and fixed term appointments.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 01/09/2020 13:55:56 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1216999

registered interest
date	23/06/2020
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	Key Workers: Quarantine
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will bring forward proposals to increase financial support for key workers who need to self-isolate due to showing covid-19 symptoms.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	63312
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>As part of the Government’s strategy to support people affected by COVID 19, DWP has made a number of changes to make sure people can self-isolate, and to ensure people who need financial help have access to the benefit system.</p><p> </p><ul><li>We have introduced new provisions making Statutory Sick Pay payable from day 1 – as opposed to day 4 – where an eligible individual is sick, self-isolating or shielding (in England and Wales).</li><li>If their income is reduced while sick or self-isolating and they require further financial support, individuals may be able to claim Universal Credit and new style Employment and Support Allowance, depending on their individual circumstances.</li></ul><p>We have increased the Universal Credit standard allowance by £20 per week for the next 12 months – up to £1,040 this year. This is in addition to the 1.7% inflation increase (announced Nov 2019) as part of the Government’s decision to end the benefits freeze and means more financial support for millions of people across the UK.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 30/06/2020 15:06:55 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince previous answer version 33003 answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1194145

registered interest
date	11/05/2020
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	Working Conditions: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What recent discussions she has had with the Health and Safety Executive on ensuring that workplaces are safe to return to after the covid-19 lockdown has ended.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	902447
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/05/2020 answer text <p>HSE are working across Government and both the Secretary of State and I have had regular meetings with senior officials from the HSE to assess the ways in which the Department can support the important work HSE is doing in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 11/05/2020 16:24:54 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris