Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
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 effectiveness of advice given by (a) work coaches and (b) universal credit journals on claiming the advance payment of universal credit.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
Any need for an advance payment or other financial or budgeting support should be established at the outset of a claim for Universal Credit. This includes existing benefit claimants who move to Universal Credit through a change of circumstances. In the initial new claim interview, work coaches are trained to offer personal budgeting support and assess whether claimants need help to manage until their first Universal Credit payment. If so they are advised to apply for an advance. Furthermore, additional work has been done by the Department to raise awareness of advances nationally, including providing options on the UC Helpline, and signposting through the new “Universal Credit & you” guide for claimants and on the new online Money Manager tool offered by the Money Advice Service. We will shortly be publishing data on advances.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of number of tenants in receipt of housing benefit in the private rented sector (a) prior to housing benefit being paid directly to the tenant and (b) since housing benefit has been paid directly to the tenant.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
The Government believes that direct payment of Housing Benefit to claimants is an important consideration in encouraging people to manage their own budget in the same way as other households, particularly where it may help claimants when they move in work.
Direct payment of Housing Benefit to tenants was introduced nationally in the private rented sector from 2008 as part of the Local Housing Allowance scheme. Whilst the majority of Housing Benefit claimants are paid directly, there is still provision for direct payments to be made to landlords in certain circumstances. The number of tenants in receipt of Housing Benefit in the private rented sector is available on DWP Stat-Xplore.
Guidance for users is available at:
https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the level of rent arrears in (a) public and (b) private sector accommodation since housing benefit has been paid directly to tenants.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
DWP does not collect data on rent arrears. The Government believes that direct payment of Housing Benefit to claimants is an important consideration in encouraging people to manage their own budget in the same way as other households, particularly where it may help claimants when they move into work.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
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 effect of paying housing benefit directly to tenants on their ability to secure accommodation in the private rented sector.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
DWP has not made an assessment specifically looking at the effect of paying Housing Benefit directly to tenants and their ability to secure accommodation in the private rented sector. The Government believes that direct payment of Housing Benefit to claimants is an important consideration in encouraging people to manage their own budget in the same way as other households, particularly where it may help claimants when they move in work.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department has collected data on the average (a) distance travelled by claimants to attend jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus appointments and (b) costs of travel incurred by claimants in attending appointments at jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus centres.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
Whilst the Department has not estimated or collected data on the average distances and costs incurred by claimants when attending appointments at their local jobcentre it has, as part of its review of the future estate, carefully considered claimant travel. Rather than assess the average distances from customers’ homes to their current and proposed new jobcentre, we have focused instead on the distances between existing and proposed jobcentre locations to help customers better understand any differences in distance. This is to reflect the fact that people who travel to the jobcentre will use whichever type of transport suits their personal circumstances, they may not be starting their journey from their home, and not all those who use our services are claimants.
The reimbursement of travel costs is available to claimants when they are required to attend the jobcentre for appointments other than mandatory fortnightly signing appointments. In addition, those claiming Employment and Support Allowance and Income Support are not required to attend their local jobcentre on a regular basis. Jobseekers who have been claiming Universal Credit or Jobseeker’s Allowance for more than 13 weeks can also apply for a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card which halves the cost of pay as you go bus fares.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the average (a) distance travelled by claimants to attend jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus appointments and (b) costs of travel incurred by claimants attending appointments at jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus centres; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
Whilst the Department has not estimated or collected data on the average distances and costs incurred by claimants when attending appointments at their local jobcentre it has, as part of its review of the future estate, carefully considered claimant travel. Rather than assess the average distances from customers’ homes to their current and proposed new jobcentre, we have focused instead on the distances between existing and proposed jobcentre locations to help customers better understand any differences in distance. This is to reflect the fact that people who travel to the jobcentre will use whichever type of transport suits their personal circumstances, they may not be starting their journey from their home, and not all those who use our services are claimants.
The reimbursement of travel costs is available to claimants when they are required to attend the jobcentre for appointments other than mandatory fortnightly signing appointments. In addition, those claiming Employment and Support Allowance and Income Support are not required to attend their local jobcentre on a regular basis. Jobseekers who have been claiming Universal Credit or Jobseeker’s Allowance for more than 13 weeks can also apply for a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card which halves the cost of pay as you go bus fares.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will introduce a (a) maximum distance of travel criterion for jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus claimants and (b) cap on the costs of travel incurred by claimants on commuting to and from jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus appointments.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
We already have the flexibility to support claimants who are required to attend regular Jobcentre Plus appointments.
Alternative arrangements can be made for claimants who live more than one hour away from their nearest Jobcentre Plus office using public transport and for journeys which result in an absence from home of four hours or more. In these circumstances claimants can engage with us through digital or telephony channels or exceptionally by post for Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants.
For claimants required to look for and be available for work, if an appointment falls outside of their normal fortnightly attendance cycle, travel expenses can be refunded. Jobseekers who have been claiming Universal Credit or Jobseekers Allowance for more than 13 weeks can also apply for a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card which halves the cost of pay as you go bus fares.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
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 his Department introducing a (a) maximum distance of travel criterion for jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus claimants and (b) cap on the costs of travel incurred by claimants on commuting to and from jobcentre and Jobcentre Plus appointments.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
We already have the flexibility to support claimants who are required to attend regular Jobcentre Plus appointments.
Alternative arrangements can be made for claimants who live more than one hour away from their nearest Jobcentre Plus office using public transport and for journeys which result in an absence from home of four hours or more. In these circumstances claimants can engage with us through digital or telephony channels or exceptionally by post for Jobseeker’s Allowance claimants.
For claimants required to look for and be available for work, if an appointment falls outside of their normal fortnightly attendance cycle, travel expenses can be refunded. Jobseekers who have been claiming Universal Credit or Jobseekers Allowance for more than 13 weeks can also apply for a Jobcentre Plus Travel Discount Card which halves the cost of pay as you go bus fares.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons people who are in receipt of employment and support allowance and who live with a relative are unable to claim a disability premium if they meet all other relevant assessment criteria.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Enhanced Disability Premium is automatically payable as part of income-related ESA to people who are in the support group, whether or not they live with a relative.
In addition, income-related ESA claimants may qualify for a Severe Disability Premium if they live alone or as part of a couple who both receive a qualifying benefit. The Severe Disability Premium is intended for those severely disabled people who live independently, and who are therefore most likely to need to purchase care.
No premiums are payable as part of contribution based ESA.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what procedures are in place to transfer personal independence payment claimants on the fast-track system when it becomes clear they have a terminal illness.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
Claims under the special rules for terminally ill must be made especially for that purpose by the claimant or a 3rd party. The Department provides a dedicated claim line with specially trained service agents to handle these sensitive claims. During the course of any claim where it becomes apparent that an existing claimant is or has become terminally ill, staff will actively look to see if they can turn the normal rules claim into a fast tracked Special Rules Terminally Ill claim, which the current clearance times are within 5 working days.