Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Stedman-Scott on 28 April (HL7970) and the subsequent correspondence on 11 May, of the six notified persons who missed their initial deadline date, which benefits were each of the six persons claiming; and how many had (1) ill health or a disability, and (2) some form of complex needs (including, but not limited to ill health and disability).
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
Of the 6 people who did not claim Universal Credit by their deadline each was in receipt of:
The information we hold does not go into the specifics of each case including complex needs and/ or disabilities.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many notified persons involved in the Universal Credit managed migration pilot in Harrogate missed their deadline day for claiming Universal Credit; and of this group, how many notified persons (1) did not subsequently have their deadline extended, (2) subsequently had their deadline extended, (3) claimed Universal Credit by their final deadline, and (4) did not claim Universal Credit by their final deadline.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Stedman-Scott on 24 March (HL6871), what plans they have, if any, to publish (1) the evaluation strategy, (2) the evaluation, and (3) the equality impact assessments for managed migration updated to take into account the experience gained from each stage of (a) the Harrogate managed migration pilot, and (b) the managed migration discovery phase.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Stedman-Scott on 6 April (HL7286), what steps they are taking to ensure that deductions to Universal Credit payments never exceed the standard cap rate of 25 per cent.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of renters unable to cover rents as a result of the freezing of the Local Housing Allowance rate.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates determine the maximum housing support for Housing Benefit and Universal Credit claimants in the private rented sector. LHA rates are not intended to meet all rents in all areas.
In April 2020 we increased LHA rates to the 30th percentile of local rents, costing nearly £1 billion and providing 1.5 million claimants with £600 more in housing support, on average over 2020-21, than they would have otherwise received.
LHA rates have been maintained at their increased levels in 2021-22 and will remain at those levels for 2022-23, so that everyone who benefitted from the increase will continue to do so.
A claimant’s ability to cover their rental costs will be unique to the individual. For those who require additional help with housing costs Discretionary Housing Payments are available from local authorities (LAs). Since 2011 we have provided almost £1.5 billion to LAs to help support people who face a shortfall in meeting their rental housing costs.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what training they provide to work coaches to help them to support women with criminal records or who are on probation, when they are applying for jobs.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
Work Coach learning is designed to be gender neutral, and support tailoring actions to individual customer needs. It does not specifically reference women with criminal records or who are on probation, when they are applying for jobs.
Specific Universal Credit Prison Work Coach (PWC) learning is provided for Work Coaches who will be undertaking a role with prison leavers. This comprises of 47 hours of learning, blended to include facilitation, self-study and group work. The learning content can be tailored to learners’ requirements.
This PWC learning aims to provide skills and knowledge without any reference to gender, preparing the PWC to support prison leavers with their Universal Credit claim and journey into employability. There is a focus on building relationships with employment partners to help create workshops and job vacancies for prison leavers.
All Work Coaches including PWCs complete Complex Needs learning. This is upskilling to identify a claimant who has complex needs and be aware of the support that they can give. Concerns, such as prevalent employer attitudes to ex-offenders, stigma and common misconceptions are discussed. Learning highlights that ex-offenders are often vulnerable because they may have lived outside of the modern world for a period and may be less used to managing their own affairs.
The learning provides information on what has to be declared and supports giving advice to ex-offenders on disclosure. Learning stipulates that a Work Coach must get a customer's consent before declaring that they have a conviction to an employer.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to use statutory instruments under the (1) affirmative, or (2) negative, procedure to introduce the full move to the Universal Credit programme, following the pilot scheme.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The Universal Credit (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2014 provided for transition to UC and these were amended in 2019 by the Universal Credit (Managed Migration Pilot and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2019 providing for managed migration.
A short instrument containing some amendments to the 2014 and 2019 Regulations is being considered. This instrument will be subject to the negative procedure.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that deductions to Universal Credit payments are capped at no more than 25 per cent.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
In April 2021 we reduced the standard cap rate of deductions in Universal Credit from 30% to 25% of a claimant’s Standard Allowance enabling them to take home more of the award. These changes were brought forward from October 2021(March 2020 Budget) to April 2021 and supported Universal Credit claimants to manage financial difficulties.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when the Department for Work and Pensions will fulfil their commitment to publish the evaluation strategy for the managed migration pilot; and when they will publish (1) the evaluation of the managed migration pilot, and (2) the Equality Impact Assessments of managed migration plans.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The Harrogate pilot was suspended as the Department focused on delivering its part of the Government’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic. An announcement on our latest Move to Universal Credit plans will be made in due course.
Asked by: Baroness Lister of Burtersett (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government when they will begin the roll-out of managed migration.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The department will make an announcement in due course on Move to Universal Credit.