Asked by: Baroness Sherlock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many mandatory reconsiderations for Universal Credit were made in each month of 2020 so far.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The information requested on the outcome of UC Mandatory Reconsiderations (MR), that is, where the claimant disagrees with the decision made and disputes it through the MR process, and how much has been paid out following a decision being changed after an MR is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
The number of Universal Credit Mandatory Reconsiderations (MRs) requested and completed in the relevant months are below.
Table 1 Universal Credit Mandatory Reconsiderations Requested and Completed
| MRs requested in month | UC MRs completed in this month |
Jan-20 | 16,240 | 18,100 |
Feb-20 | 15,510 | 17,920 |
Mar-20 | 14,630 | 15,930 |
Apr-20 | 9,200 | 7,400 |
May-20 | 11,530 | 12,260 |
Jun-20 | 10,670 | 18,140 |
Jul-20 | 8,850 | 14,860 |
Aug-20 | 6,490 | 9,750 |
Sep-20 | 7,660 | 8,710 |
January to September 2020 | 100,780 | 123,070 |
GB only, figures rounded to the nearest 10
UC MRs completed does not include cancelled or withdrawn MRs.
Asked by: Baroness Sherlock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many mandatory reconsiderations for Universal Credit were (1) successful, and (2) unsuccessful, in 2020.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The information requested on the outcome of UC Mandatory Reconsiderations (MR), that is, where the claimant disagrees with the decision made and disputes it through the MR process, and how much has been paid out following a decision being changed after an MR is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
The number of Universal Credit Mandatory Reconsiderations (MRs) requested and completed in the relevant months are below.
Table 1 Universal Credit Mandatory Reconsiderations Requested and Completed
| MRs requested in month | UC MRs completed in this month |
Jan-20 | 16,240 | 18,100 |
Feb-20 | 15,510 | 17,920 |
Mar-20 | 14,630 | 15,930 |
Apr-20 | 9,200 | 7,400 |
May-20 | 11,530 | 12,260 |
Jun-20 | 10,670 | 18,140 |
Jul-20 | 8,850 | 14,860 |
Aug-20 | 6,490 | 9,750 |
Sep-20 | 7,660 | 8,710 |
January to September 2020 | 100,780 | 123,070 |
GB only, figures rounded to the nearest 10
UC MRs completed does not include cancelled or withdrawn MRs.
Asked by: Baroness Sherlock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much, in total, they have paid out following successful mandatory reconsiderations for Universal Credit in 2020.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The information requested on the outcome of UC Mandatory Reconsiderations (MR), that is, where the claimant disagrees with the decision made and disputes it through the MR process, and how much has been paid out following a decision being changed after an MR is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
The number of Universal Credit Mandatory Reconsiderations (MRs) requested and completed in the relevant months are below.
Table 1 Universal Credit Mandatory Reconsiderations Requested and Completed
| MRs requested in month | UC MRs completed in this month |
Jan-20 | 16,240 | 18,100 |
Feb-20 | 15,510 | 17,920 |
Mar-20 | 14,630 | 15,930 |
Apr-20 | 9,200 | 7,400 |
May-20 | 11,530 | 12,260 |
Jun-20 | 10,670 | 18,140 |
Jul-20 | 8,850 | 14,860 |
Aug-20 | 6,490 | 9,750 |
Sep-20 | 7,660 | 8,710 |
January to September 2020 | 100,780 | 123,070 |
GB only, figures rounded to the nearest 10
UC MRs completed does not include cancelled or withdrawn MRs.
Asked by: Baroness Sherlock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many applications have been (1) made to, and (2) accepted by, the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme.
Answered by Lord Bethell
As of 4 November, the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme (England) has received 236 claims. Payment has been made for 96 of those claims. A further 109 have been accepted for payment pending proof of probate from the claimant, and the remainder are going through the stages of being processed and assessed. The total value of accepted claims is £12,300,000.
Asked by: Baroness Sherlock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many payments have been made by the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme; and what was the total value of those payments.
Answered by Lord Bethell
As of 4 November, the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme (England) has received 236 claims. Payment has been made for 96 of those claims. A further 109 have been accepted for payment pending proof of probate from the claimant, and the remainder are going through the stages of being processed and assessed. The total value of accepted claims is £12,300,000.
Asked by: Baroness Sherlock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any decision by an employer not to certify an application to the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme concerning a deceased employee falls within the remit of (1) the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, (2) the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, or (3) any other ombudsman or regulator.
Answered by Lord Bethell
A claim can be made without employer involvement. The NHS Business Services Authority, as the scheme administrator, can assist the next of kin with the claims process. So far, no claims have been received without input from employers.
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is the decision maker for the scheme. Any complaint regarding a decision would fall within the remit of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
Asked by: Baroness Sherlock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether an employer’s decision not to certify an application to the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme concerning a deceased employee can be challenged; and if so, how.
Answered by Lord Bethell
A claim can be made without employer involvement. The NHS Business Services Authority, as the scheme administrator, can assist the next of kin with the claims process. So far, no claims have been received without input from employers.
The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care is the decision maker for the scheme. Any complaint regarding a decision would fall within the remit of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
Asked by: Baroness Sherlock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there is any process in place to speed up the provision of tax rebates to people whose income has been affected by COVID-19.
Answered by Lord Agnew of Oulton
HMRC does not have a process to identify customers whose income has been affected by Covid-19 and speed up tax rebates to them. HMRC seeks to return all identified tax rebates to all customers as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Baroness Sherlock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many meetings (1) the Prime Minister, (2) the Chancellor of the Exchequer, (3) the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and (4) the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, have had with the COVID-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group.
Answered by Lord True - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal
Details of Ministerial meetings with external organisations are published on gov.uk.
Ministers are acutely aware of the grief, heartbreak and loss suffered by families across the country as a result of the virus, and the Government has fully committed to looking back and reflecting on all aspects of the pandemic.
There will be an opportunity to learn lessons from all aspects of the pandemic in the fullness of time, but for now, the Government remains focused on reducing the spread of the virus, and to protect those most vulnerable in society.
Ministers have met and continue to meet with those who have been bereaved as a result of Covid-19. And with respect to this particular group, Ministers from Her Majesty’s Government will be happy to meet them at an appropriate time to do so, and once legal proceedings have concluded.
Asked by: Baroness Sherlock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many people have had benefit claims rejected due to receipt of payments from the NHS and Social Care Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The information requested is not available.