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1183047

registered interest
date	05/03/2020
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, pursuant to the Answer of 5 February 2020 to Question 10759, how many claimants had deductions taken from their universal credit payments in each parliamentary constituency in August 2019.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	25696
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2020 answer text <p>This Government is committed to providing a strong welfare safety-net for those who need it. Our deductions policy strikes a fair balance between a claimant’s need to meet their financial obligations and their ability to ensure they can meet their day-to-day needs. Since October 2019, Universal Credit deductions are set at a maximum of 30% of a claimant’s standard allowance, down from 40% previously.</p><p> </p><p>The requested information surrounding deductions to Universal Credit payments by parliamentary constituency is shown in the attached table.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince grouped question UIN 25694 question first answered 24/04/2020 08:30:03 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince attachment 1 file name PQs 25694, 25696- Chris Stephens- Additional Data Deductions incl. table.xlsx title Additional data deductions table previous answer version 11689 answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens

1182205

registered interest
date	03/03/2020
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 recent assessment she has made of the effect of the time taken for a claimant to receive their first universal credit payment on the financial situation of those claimants; and if she will make a statement.
tabling member constituency	Tewkesbury
tabling member printed	Mr Laurence Robertson
uin	24231
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2020 answer text <p>Universal Credit is now the main system of working age welfare support across the country. It is available in every Jobcentre, with a caseload of 2.8 million claimants, growing every month, now able to access the additional support and flexibilities it offers.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants can access up to 100% of the total expected monthly award, which they can pay back over a period of up to 12 months. We have announced that from October 2021, the repayment period for these advances will be extended further, to 16 months. Claimants who utilise this support have more money in the first 6 months than on legacy benefits.</p><p> </p><p>Our Work Coaches gauge claimants’ financial needs from their first interview. As part of this, every claimant is offered an advance payment on application. Proposed repayments of the advance are explained, and all claimants are advised to request a level of advance which is manageable both now and when considering the repayments required.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has 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 to Universal Credit a two-week run-on. We are also introducing a two-week run-on for eligible claimants of Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance from July 2020.</p><p> </p><p>Data surrounding Universal Credit payments made in full and on time is published at: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk </a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for users is available at: <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html </a></p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/03/2020 18:09:53 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	253 label Biography information for Mr Laurence Robertson

1182338

registered interest
date	03/03/2020
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, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2020 to Question 21155 on Universal Credit, which organisation has the responsibility for setting and adjusting the rate at which a court fine is deducted from a universal credit claim.
tabling member constituency	Wallasey
tabling member printed	Ms Angela Eagle
uin	24248
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2020 answer text <p>The Department’s deductions policy strikes a fair balance between a claimant’s need to meet their financial obligations and their ability to ensure they can meet their day-to-day needs. Deductions for court fines are based on rates provided in legislation.</p><p> </p><p>HMCTS have the ultimate responsibility for setting the amount of a court fine, which the Department will then make deductions for at their request.</p><p> </p><p>The rate of Universal Credit deductions for court fines is detailed in the Fines (Deduction from Income Support) Regulations 1992, Regulation 4(1B). This piece of legislation was amended to include Universal Credit and can be viewed at: <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/2182/regulation/4" target="_blank">https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/2182/regulation/4</a>.</p><p>Since October 2019, all standard Universal Credit deductions are a maximum of 30% of a claimant’s standard allowance down from 40% previously.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/03/2020 17:16:53 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	491 label Biography information for Dame Angela Eagle

1182355

registered interest
date	03/03/2020
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 progress her Department has made in implementing the recommendations of the Social Security Advisory Committee on alternative ways of claiming universal credit other than online.
tabling member constituency	Wallasey
tabling member printed	Ms Angela Eagle
uin	24251
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 09/03/2020 answer text <p>We want the application process for Universal Credit to be as quick and easy as possible to ensure that claimants receive their money at the earliest opportunity.</p><p>The Department takes seriously the need to support vulnerable claimants. Comprehensive support is available to claimants to use our digital service, however we recognise there will be occasions when people are unable to make or maintain their claim online, so telephone applications can be accepted. In these instances, information normally available through a claimant’s online account will be communicated in an alternative format, which is best suited to an individual’s circumstances.</p><p>Job Centre staff can refer claimants to personalised provisions which support those who find navigating technology challenging. We are currently testing a range of additional support offerings and employment provision, including more integrated health and employment support. This includes the Local Supported Employment trailblazer, which will be focusing on people with a learning disability or autism who are known to Adult Social Care, or those in touch with mental health services.</p><p>The most recent report from SSAC suggests 80% of claimants are comfortable with using the online features such as the journal, and recent interaction with stakeholders suggests a high proportion’ of claimants were very comfortable with claiming online.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 09/03/2020 17:13:32 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	491 label Biography information for Dame Angela Eagle

1181577

registered interest
date	28/02/2020
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 the average cost to her Department is of processing a universal credit claim for a single one month assessment period.
tabling member constituency	Easington
tabling member printed	Grahame Morris
uin	22382
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/03/2020 answer text <p>The information is not held.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 04/03/2020 11:56:22 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	3973 label Biography information for Grahame Morris

1180911

registered interest
date	26/02/2020
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, which organisation has the responsibility for setting and adjusting the rate of deductions for fixed penalty notices for environmental offences to universal credit claims.
tabling member constituency	Wallasey
tabling member printed	Ms Angela Eagle
uin	21155
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2020 answer text <p>Fixed penalty notices for environment offences are not deducted from Universal Credit awards.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 02/03/2020 13:34:16 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	491 label Biography information for Dame Angela Eagle

1180341

registered interest
date	25/02/2020
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, pursuant to the Answer of 12 February to Question 15027, whether her Department collects data on the correlation between the number of people borrowing from loan sharks and the roll-out of universal credit in an area.
tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
uin	20473
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2020 answer text <p><strong> </strong></p><p>The Department does not collect data about the use of loan sharks.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is creating a Breathing Space scheme to help people experiencing problem debt. Breathing Space will be implemented in early 2021 and provide access to advice and allow people the time and space to fully engage with professional support, helping them identify a sustainable solution to their debts. The scheme will cover a broad range of debts, including not only financial services debts but also arrears owed to utility companies and to central and local government.</p><p /> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 02/03/2020 17:19:32 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1180493

registered interest
date	25/02/2020
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, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2020 to Question 727 on Universal Credit, how much has been paid back to universal credit claimants as a result of Real Time Information disputes being upheld in the most recent 12 months for which data are available.
tabling member constituency	South Shields
tabling member printed	Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck
uin	20496
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2020 answer text <p>The information is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 02/03/2020 13:36:01 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4277 label Biography information for Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

1180494

registered interest
date	25/02/2020
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, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2020 to Question 727 on Universal Credit, how many universal credit claimants successfully disputed the Real Time Information on which their awards were based (a) from February 2016 to January 2017, (b) from February 2017 to January 2018 and (c) from February 2018 to January 2019.
tabling member constituency	South Shields
tabling member printed	Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck
uin	20497
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2020 answer text <p>The Department has been working closely with HMRC since Universal Credit went live in 2013 to support and inform employers who report earnings to emphasise the importance of timely reporting via the Real Time Information (RTI) system.</p><p> </p><p>HMRC have guidance to reiterate to employers the importance of reporting accurate dates and the impact on payment cycles; the Financial Secretary to the Treasury is also working closely with HMRC and employers to encourage accurate reporting dates. Please see the table below for the relevant data on the total successful RTI disputes.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Total RTI calculations</p></td><td><p>RTI calculation disputes</p></td><td><p>Percentage (%) of disputes to total calculations</p></td><td><p>Number of successful disputes</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>July 2017 – January 2018</p></td><td><p>3,902,052</p></td><td><p>11,133</p></td><td><p>0.3%</p></td><td><p>2,226</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>February 2018 – January 2019</p></td><td><p>13,566,745</p></td><td><p>61,246</p></td><td><p>0.4%</p></td><td><p>11,636</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p><strong>Notes:</strong></p><p> </p><ul><li>The earliest available data is from July 2017.</li></ul> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 02/03/2020 16:34:58 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4277 label Biography information for Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

1180558

registered interest
date	25/02/2020
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, how many and what proportion of universal credit claims that have had a deduction applied had (a) up to 20 per cent, (b) between 21 and 30 per cent, (c) between 31 and 40 per cent and (d) more than 41 per cent deducted in the latest period for which data is available.
tabling member constituency	Glasgow South West
tabling member printed	Chris Stephens
uin	20637
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/03/2020 answer text <p>This Government is committed to providing a strong welfare safety-net for those who need it. There is a well-established system of hardship payments, benefit advances and budgeting loans for those who need extra support.</p><p> </p><p>Our deductions policy strikes a fair balance between a claimant’s need to meet their financial obligations and their ability to ensure they can meet their day-to-day needs. Since October 2019, Universal Credit deductions are a maximum of 30% of a claimant’s standard allowance down from 40% previously.</p><p> </p><p>We also recognise the importance of safeguarding the welfare of claimants who have incurred debt, so last resort deductions over the 30% cap can be applied to protect vulnerable claimants from eviction and/or having their fuel supply disconnected, by providing a repayment method for arrears of these essential services.</p><p> </p><p>Of all eligible claims to Universal Credit Full Service due a payment in November 2019, 58% (1,307,000 claims) had a deduction.</p><p> </p><p>Of this 1,307,000 claims with a deduction:</p><p> </p><p>a) 44% (569,000 claims) had deductions up to and including 20% of the Standard Allowance (25% of all eligible claims).</p><p> </p><p>b) 52% (681,000 claims) had deductions between 20% and 30% of the Standard Allowance (30% of all eligible claims).</p><p> </p><p>For last resort deductions –</p><p> </p><p>c) 4% (51,000 claims) had deductions between 30% and 40% of their Standard Allowance (2% of all eligible claims).</p><p> </p><p>d) 1% (7,000 claims) had deductions above 40% of their Standard Allowance (0.3% of all eligible claims).</p><p> </p><p>Notes:</p><p> </p><p>1. Claim numbers may not match official statistics caseloads due to small methodological differences.</p><p>2. Claim numbers are rounded up to the nearest 1,000.</p><p>3. Deductions include advance repayments and all other deductions, but exclude sanctions and fraud penalties which are reductions of benefit rather than deductions.</p><p>4. Deduction bands exclude the lower limit but include the upper limit, i.e. 'between 20% and 30% of the Standard Allowance' includes claimants having 30% of their standard allowance deducted but not those having 20% deducted.</p> answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince question first answered 03/03/2020 11:05:40 answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince previous answer version 9751 answering member constituency Colchester answering member printed Will Quince answering member 4423 label Biography information for Will Quince
tabling member	4463 label Biography information for Chris Stephens