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registered interest false more like this
date less than 2015-06-10more like thismore than 2015-06-10
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Fuel Direct Scheme remove filter
house id 2 remove filter
legislature
25277
pref label House of Lords more like this
question text To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the affordability of a standard Fuel Direct rate of £3.70 for direct payments for arrears on fuel bills; and whether in setting that rate they considered (1) allowing some customers to pay a lower rate of direct deduction, and (2) allowing customers to pay by Fuel Direct for ongoing bills when they are not in arrears. more like this
tabling member printed
The Lord Bishop of St Albans more like this
uin HL394 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2015-06-18more like thismore than 2015-06-18
answer text <p /> <p>Third Party Deduction is a long standing scheme of last resort where all other means of budgeting have been exhausted. Where the Secretary of State decides that it is in the claimant’s best interests to order repayment of the arrears he can do so. The scheme was introduced in the 1970’s to protect the vulnerable and their family, whilst not adding to their financial burden.</p><p> </p><p>Fuel Direct is set in legislation at 5% of their Personal Allowance, which is a fixed deduction of £3.70 for each element of fuel debt. This is considered to be the most appropriate level of repayment in order to clear the fuel debt arrears and to prevent enforcement action.</p><p> </p><p>Each year the amount of Third Party Deduction is re-assessed as part of The Social Security Up-rating Order.</p><p> </p><p>Once the arrears have been paid a person will usually be taken off the Fuel Direct scheme. In exceptional circumstances a person may be allowed to remain on the Fuel Direct scheme to help ensure that they don’t get into debt again.</p><p> </p><p>However Fuel Direct is not intended as a budgeting aid and the Governments main objective is to help people into employment, whilst encouraging them to be responsible for their own financial affairs, whether they are on benefit or not.</p>
answering member printed Baroness Altmann more like this
question first answered
less than 2015-06-18T14:39:18.987Zmore like thismore than 2015-06-18T14:39:18.987Z
answering member
4533
label Biography information for Baroness Altmann more like this
tabling member
4308
label Biography information for The Lord Bishop of St Albans more like this