{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?max-ddpCreated=2023-03-07T21%3A31%3A01.643Z&max-ddpModified.=2023-02-27T23%3A16%3A11.126Z&answer.answeringMemberPrinted=Viscount+Younger+of+Leckie&max-questionFirstAnswered.=2023-03-16T16%3A37%3A22.04Z", "definition" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?max-ddpCreated=2023-03-07T21%3A31%3A01.643Z&max-ddpModified.=2023-02-27T23%3A16%3A11.126Z&answer.answeringMemberPrinted=Viscount+Younger+of+Leckie&max-questionFirstAnswered.=2023-03-16T16%3A37%3A22.04Z", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?max-ddpCreated=2023-03-07T21%3A31%3A01.643Z&max-ddpModified.=2023-02-27T23%3A16%3A11.126Z&_metadata=all&answer.answeringMemberPrinted=Viscount+Younger+of+Leckie&max-questionFirstAnswered.=2023-03-16T16%3A37%3A22.04Z", "first" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=0&max-ddpCreated=2023-03-07T21%3A31%3A01.643Z&max-ddpModified.=2023-02-27T23%3A16%3A11.126Z&answer.answeringMemberPrinted=Viscount+Younger+of+Leckie&max-questionFirstAnswered.=2023-03-16T16%3A37%3A22.04Z", "hasPart" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?max-ddpCreated=2023-03-07T21%3A31%3A01.643Z&max-ddpModified.=2023-02-27T23%3A16%3A11.126Z&answer.answeringMemberPrinted=Viscount+Younger+of+Leckie&max-questionFirstAnswered.=2023-03-16T16%3A37%3A22.04Z", "isPartOf" : "https://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?max-ddpCreated=2023-03-07T21%3A31%3A01.643Z&max-ddpModified.=2023-02-27T23%3A16%3A11.126Z&answer.answeringMemberPrinted=Viscount+Younger+of+Leckie&max-questionFirstAnswered.=2023-03-16T16%3A37%3A22.04Z", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1599684", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1599684/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The latest monthly statistics, taken from Stat-Xplore, on the number of Universal Credit full service claimants with a payment that has been reduced due to a sanction, by Westminster parliamentary constituency, for September to November 2022, are provided in the answer I gave to you on 6 March for HL5653<\/a>.<\/p>

<\/p>

The information requested for the total and average sum of benefit income lost and parts (1), (2) and (3) is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.<\/p>

<\/p>

Sanctions are only ever applied when a claimant fails to meet their agreed conditionality requirements without good reason.<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4169", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Viscount Younger of Leckie"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-03-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-03-14T12:39:52.637Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-02-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Security Benefits: Disqualification"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government how many benefit claims were subject to sanctions in the most recent three months for which data is available, broken down by parliamentary constituency; how much was the total and average sum of benefit income lost by claimants due to sanctions in each constituency; what was the (1) shortest, (2) average, and (3) longest, length of time taken to challenge a benefit sanction decision in the most recent 12 months for which data is available; and when, and for what reason, the Department for Work and Pensions ceased requiring a case conference to assess the impact of a sanction before any sanction was imposed.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Field of Birkenhead"} ], "uin" : "HL5907"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1599685", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1599685/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The information requested for parts (2), (3) and (4) is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.<\/p>

<\/p>

In November 2022 (4%) of those who received a sanction were in the working \u2013 with requirements and working \u2013 no requirements conditionality regimes.<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

Sanctions are only ever applied when a claimant fails to meet their agreed conditionality requirements without good reason. These requirements are developed and agreed in discussion with their work coach and tailored to their individual capability, capacity and specific circumstances, including any health conditions or disability, ensuring they are realistic and achievable.<\/p>

<\/p>

Those who are not expected to look for work, such as those with severe health conditions, including mental health conditions, are not subject to requirements or sanctions.<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/strong><\/p>

<\/strong><\/p>

<\/strong><\/p>

<\/strong><\/p>

<\/strong><\/p>

<\/strong><\/p>

<\/strong><\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4169", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Viscount Younger of Leckie"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-03-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-03-14T13:00:59.6Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-02-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Security Benefits: Disqualification"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government how many and what proportion of benefit claimants currently under sanction (1) are in paid employment, (2) are receiving hardship payments, (3) have a medical condition, or (4) were in hospital or attending a medical appointment when they were deemed to have failed to comply.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Field of Birkenhead"} ], "uin" : "HL5908"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1599686", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1599686/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

Sanctions are only ever applied when a claimant fails to meet their agreed conditionality requirements without good reason. These requirements are developed and agreed in discussion with their work coach and tailored to their individual capability, capacity and specific circumstances, including any health conditions or disability, ensuring they are realistic and achievable. The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4169", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie"} } , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Viscount Younger of Leckie"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2023-03-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2023-03-14T12:18:30.377Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2023-02-27", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Security Benefits: Disqualification"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "2"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25277", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Lords"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask His Majesty's Government how many children are living in households in which a benefit claimant is under sanction.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/478", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Lord Field of Birkenhead"} } , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Lord Field of Birkenhead"} ], "uin" : "HL5909"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1599687", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1599687/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The Department reallocated resources to prioritise work to help the COVID-19 effort. This caused delays to some work, including this literature review. The department has subsequently decided not to restart the review, as it summarises publicly available information and does not contain any new research carried out by the Department. However, we continue to monitor new research and evidence produced by external organisations.<\/p>

<\/p>

The Department has recently published new data from the Family Resources Survey on household food security, giving us a better understanding of who is most at risk. We have also included new questions in the family resources survey for 2021/2 which will be published in March 2023 and further expand our evidence in this area. This underlines how seriously we take the issue of food insecurity.<\/p>

<\/p>

The Government recognises the importance of supporting claimants to manage their liabilities. Under Universal Credit, there is a co-ordinated approach to deductions from benefit, which supports claimants to manage their financial obligations. The primary aim of deductions in Universal Credit is to protect vulnerable claimants by providing a last resort repayment method for arrears of essential services. We continue to aim to strike the right balance between ensuring those protections are in place and allowing claimants to retain as much of their award as possible for day-to-day needs.<\/p>

<\/p>

There has been no specific consideration around the merits of including food bank usage when considering claimants for an exception from deductions. However, if a claimant is struggling financially, they can ask for the amount of the following deductions to be reconsidered:<\/p>