Asked by: Lord Hanson of Flint (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the pilot scheme to help homeless ex-offenders conducted by the Norfolk Community Foundation and Norfolk’s former High Sheriff in Norwich will be (a) launched and (b) concluded; and what criteria will be used to assess the scheme's effectiveness.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
This provision is expected to start in early June 2019, subject to standard DWP partnership checks and procedures being completed. It is planned to run for one year and will support approximately 24 ex-offenders recently released from prison. Evaluation will be conducted by the Norfolk Foundation in the form of an impact study.
DWP is committed to providing the best possible support for all our claimants, including the most vulnerable in society. We are continuously reviewing and improving the service for vulnerable people to ensure that it is accessible and responsive to their needs.
We encourage all our Jobcentre teams to consider opportunities for partnership-working, where local circumstances allow. Local areas have the flexibility to work alongside local and national organisations to help meet the needs of their communities, assisting our most vulnerable claimants, including those effected by homelessness.
In addition, all Jobcentres in England refer claimants considered to be homeless or at risk of homelessness, to the local authority to receive further housing support.
Asked by: Lord Hanson of Flint (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to reply to the letter of 4 October 2018 from the hon. Member for Delyn on statutory maternity pay and maternity allowance.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
The Department takes the issue seriously and we are in the process of responding.
Asked by: Lord Hanson of Flint (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of enabling working women in receipt of maternity allowance who have not met the qualifying period for Statutory Maternity Pay to claim full universal credit payments.
Answered by Lord Sharma
Universal Credit is a means tested system of support. Where claimants already receive Maternity Allowance to meet their living costs it is right that their Universal Credit award is adjusted to take account of the support that they are already receiving (as currently is the case with other DWP legacy means tested working age benefits).
Information about the number of women in receipt of maternity allowance who have applied for universal credit that have worked for less than 26 weeks continuous weeks is not available, and to provide it would incur disproportionate request.
Asked by: Lord Hanson of Flint (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many women in receipt of maternity allowance have applied for universal credit that have worked for less than 26 weeks continuous weeks.
Answered by Lord Sharma
Universal Credit is a means tested system of support. Where claimants already receive Maternity Allowance to meet their living costs it is right that their Universal Credit award is adjusted to take account of the support that they are already receiving (as currently is the case with other DWP legacy means tested working age benefits).
Information about the number of women in receipt of maternity allowance who have applied for universal credit that have worked for less than 26 weeks continuous weeks is not available, and to provide it would incur disproportionate request.