Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what progress has he made with respect to paragraph 18 of the Second Special Report of Session 2016-17 of the Work and Pensions Committee, Support for the bereaved: Government response to the Committee’s Ninth Report of Session 2015-16, HC230.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
We continue to liaise with the Scottish Government on its plans to introduce its own funeral expenses assistance scheme in summer 2019.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
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 on the health of people with post-traumatic stress disorder of annual assessments for personal independence payments.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
No such assessment has been made. Reviews of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are a key part of the benefit and ensure that not only do awards remain correct where needs may change but that we also maintain contact with the claimant, both features missing from its predecessor Disability Living Allowance. The length of an award is based on an individual’s circumstances and can vary from nine months to an on-going award with a light touch review at the ten year point.
PIP recognises that for the most severely disabled claimants, the award review process could seem unnecessarily intrusive. Existing PIP claimants with the most severe, lifetime disabilities, whose functional ability has remained the same, are more likely to have their evidence reviewed by a DWP Decision-Maker and will not need to have another face-to-face assessment with a healthcare professional.
We will continue to closely monitor developments across the health and disability landscape and engage with stakeholders to improve the service we provide. We are committed to ensuring that the PIP review process works effectively across the spectrum of disabilities and health conditions, including post traumatic stress disorder, other mental health conditions, cognitive impairments and physical disabilities.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that there is no gap in funding for refugees between the ending of Home Office support and the start of jobseeker's allowance payments.
Answered by Esther McVey - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
The Department for Work and Pensions is working in partnership with the Home Office and external stakeholders to improve processes for refugees claiming benefits. At the point a refugee is given the right to remain, they are provided with information about how to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance. Once a claim is registered, Jobcentre Plus aims to make first payments quickly. Short Term Benefit Advances are available for those who need more immediate financial help.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department provides to benefit offices on referrals to food banks.
Answered by Steve Webb
Jobcentre Plus offices have freedom to make local arrangements to signpost claimants as appropriate to local authorities and any other local organisations that support families in financial difficulties, including local food banks.
Asked by: Chris Williamson (Independent - Derby North)
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 reasons for regional variations in the number of sanctions issued to benefit claimants by job centres.
Answered by Esther McVey - Minister without Portfolio (Cabinet Office)
Local and district management are responsible for ensuring Jobcentre Plus staff apply labour market conditionality fairly and consistently and to make sure referrals to decision makers are appropriate and of consistently good quality.
Decisions are subject to quality assurance process to ensure that Decision Makers continuously apply the law fairly and consistency.