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Written Question
Universal Credit: Proof of Identity
Friday 17th May 2024

Asked by: Claire Hanna (Social Democratic & Labour Party - Belfast South)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he is taking steps to help tackle issues with using (a) Irish passports and (b) Northern Ireland driving licences for online verification for Universal Credit.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The new National Digital Identity GOV.UK One Login will enable citizens to use Northern Ireland Driving Licenses and Republic of Ireland Passport when proving their identity online, where this is appropriate. DWP are working towards a convergence plan for GOV.UK One Login. However there are no confirmed dates yet for when this will be implemented for Universal Credit.


Written Question
Department for Work and Pensions: Welsh Language
Friday 17th May 2024

Asked by: Baroness Smith of Llanfaes (Plaid Cymru - Life peer)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have closed the Welsh language provision of the Department for Work and Pensions bereavement service; and, if so, when and why.

Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Welsh language provision of DWP’s Bereavement Service has not been closed down.

The Bereavement Service includes:

  • Making an application for a Bereavement Support Payment
  • Reporting a death
  • Applying for Funeral Expenses

Bereavement teams within Regional Pension Centres (RPCs) provide this service. A Welsh team in Swansea Pension Centre supports the Welsh language service. This can be accessed by calling 0800 731 0453.

Those reporting a death, who have a Tell Us Once Reference Number, provided by the Registrar, can report a death on-line through the Tell Us Once service, which is also available in Welsh [Beth i'w wneud ar ôl i rywun farw: Dywedwch Wrthym Unwaith -GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)] or by calling 0800 085 7308 and selecting option 1 to speak to someone in Welsh. For those without a Tell Us Once Reference Number, the death can be reported by calling the Welsh Bereavement Service helpline on 0800 731 0453.

The Bereavement Support Payment can also be claimed online in Welsh [Taliad Cymorth Profedigaeth: Sut i wneud cais - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)].

Information relating to Bereavement can be found on GOV.UK in both Welsh and English.


Written Question
Social Security Benefits: Mental Illness
Friday 17th May 2024

Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of benefit claimants receiving over-payments on their mental health; and what steps his Department is taking to support claimants that need to re-pay over-payments.

Answered by Paul Maynard - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Where overpayments occur, we have a duty to recover taxpayers’ money as quickly and efficiently as possible, without causing hardship to those making repayments. DWP remains committed to working with anyone who is struggling with repayments terms and encourage anyone who is experiencing such difficulty to contact DWP Debt Management to discuss their circumstances.

Claimants who do contact Debt Management, are routinely referred to the Money Advisor Network, who work in partnership with DWP to offer free independent and impartial money and debt advice. We also remain committed to His Majesty’s Treasury’s Beathing Space policy, which provides those with problem debt the right to legal protections from creditor action for a period of 60 days to enable them to receive debt advice and enter into an appropriate debt solution.

In exceptional circumstances, where there are specific and compelling grounds to do so, a waiver can be considered. Full details on this can be found at Chapter 8 of the Department’s Benefit Overpayment Recovery Guide: Benefit overpayment recovery guide - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).


Written Question
Sports Competitors: Neurology
Friday 17th May 2024

Asked by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council started to investigate neurodegenerative diseases in professional sportspeople.

Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council began its investigation into neurodegenerative diseases in professional sportspeople on 20 May 2021.


Departmental Publication (Statistics)
Department for Work and Pensions

May. 16 2024

Source Page: Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 11 April 2024
Document: (ODS)
Departmental Publication (Statistics)
Department for Work and Pensions

May. 16 2024

Source Page: Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 11 April 2024
Document: (ODS)
Departmental Publication (Statistics)
Department for Work and Pensions

May. 16 2024

Source Page: Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 11 April 2024
Document: Universal Credit statistics, 29 April 2013 to 11 April 2024 (webpage)
Departmental Publication (Statistics)
Department for Work and Pensions

May. 16 2024

Source Page: Experience of claiming and receiving Carer’s Allowance
Document: Work and Pensions Select Committee inquiry (PDF)
Departmental Publication (Statistics)
Department for Work and Pensions

May. 16 2024

Source Page: Experience of claiming and receiving Carer’s Allowance
Document: Experience of claiming and receiving Carer’s Allowance (webpage)
Departmental Publication (Statistics)
Department for Work and Pensions

May. 16 2024

Source Page: Experience of claiming and receiving Carer’s Allowance
Document: (PDF)