Asked by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent East)
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 number of claims for advance payments since the inception of universal credit.
Answered by Lord Sharma
Universal Credit (UC) new claim advances provide access to a payment for those in financial need, which can be accessed on the same day, until their first UC payment is due. Claimants can access up to 100% of the total expected monthly award, for which they can pay back over a period of up to 12 months. From October 2021, this maximum repayment period will be extended further to 16 months.
Around 60 per cent of new claims take up an advance. Subject to some fluctuation, this rate of advance take-up has been broadly consistent over the last 12 months.
Between 1 May 2013 and 30 April 2019, a total of 2.9 million UC advance payments have been made.
Advances are payments of Universal Credit made early, which are subject to recovery over an agreed period.
Asked by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the cost to the public purse of advance payments for universal credit since its inception.
Answered by Lord Sharma
Universal Credit (UC) new claim advances provide access to a payment for those in financial need, which can be accessed on the same day, until their first UC payment is due. Claimants can access up to 100% of the total expected monthly award, for which they can pay back over a period of up to 12 months. From October 2021, this maximum repayment period will be extended further to 16 months.
Around 60 per cent of new claims take up an advance. Subject to some fluctuation, this rate of advance take-up has been broadly consistent over the last 12 months.
Between 1 May 2013 and 30 April 2019, a total of 2.9 million UC advance payments have been made.
Advances are payments of Universal Credit made early, which are subject to recovery over an agreed period.
Asked by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of universal credit claimants living in households without internet access in (a) Brent Central and (b) England.
Answered by Lord Sharma
This information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
Our Universal Credit Claimant Survey, published on 8 June 2018, found that 98 per cent of claimants did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be straightforward. This can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-full-service-claimant-survey
For those claimants requiring help, assistance is available through Assisted Digital Support (part of our Universal Support offer). This provides help, support and skills claimants need to make and maintain their digital account online.
All jobcentres across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. For those that are still unable to access or use digital services, or are not able to travel, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline. In exceptional circumstances, a home visit can be arranged to support a claimant in making and maintaining their claim.
Asked by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of universal credit being paid into a single bank account on the (a) independence of women and (b) balance of power in their relationships.
Answered by Lord Sharma
I refer the hon. Member to my answer to Question 139032 on 2 May 2018.
Additionally, research carried out for the Department suggests that only 2 per cent of married couples and 7 per cent of cohabiting couples keep their finances completely separate, so payments into a single bank account for couples fit with how the majority of couples organise their lives.
Asked by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that universal credit claimants without internet access in (a) Brent Central and (b) England are supported in submitting their claims.
Answered by Lord Sharma
Most people claiming Universal Credit will be able to access and navigate the internet, to make and maintain their Universal Credit account. Our published Universal Credit Claimant Survey found that 98 per cent of claimants did claim online, and the majority of those said they found the claim process overall to be straightforward. However, we recognise that some people will need help.
For those requiring help, assistance is available through Universal Support. On 1 October 2018 we announced the Department’s new partnership with Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland, who will fully deliver Universal Support from April 2019. This partnership will ensure we are offering a consistent approach nationally for our most vulnerable customers.
Assisted Digital Support, which is a component of Universal Support, provides help, support and skills claimants need to make and maintain their digital account online. Further support is offered via training courses which claimants are referred to by their work coaches.
Additionally, all jobcentres across the country have Wi-Fi and computers available for claimants to access the internet. For those few that are still unable to access or use digital services, or are not able to travel, assistance to make and maintain their claim is available via the Freephone Universal Credit helpline. The Universal Credit Service Centre will establish the best means of support available, and in exceptional circumstances, a home visit can be arranged to support a claimant in making and maintaining their claim.
Asked by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to assess the effect of closing Willesden and Kilburn Job Centre Plus in Brent; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Lord Sharma
In March 2018, the 20-year contract covering the majority of DWPs current estate of over 900 sites came to an end. This presented an opportunity to re-evaluate what we needed from our estate. The increased use of our online services in recent years, coupled with reductions in unemployment and improved efficiency, meant that 20% of the rent being paid by DWP was going toward space we were not using. In response, we have sought to redesign our estate in a way that delivers value for the taxpayer. We would stress that this is not about reducing services, but about taking the opportunity to stop spending money on empty space so we can spend more on supporting those in need.
The face-to-face support our work coaches offer at jobcentres will continue to be a core part of the service we deliver. The Department has a number of co-located colleagues working to support the community in Brent. These include:
DWP will also explore with Brent Local Authority jointly funding an employment team to deliver employment advice and guidance through community hubs, which will be located in Willesden, Kilburn, Harlesden and St. Raphael’s Estate. DWP will provide employment and skills support alongside the Employment Team managed by the council, with the aim of having a more holistic support offer working in partnership with Housing, Health and Financial Inclusion advice and support.
Asked by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the timetable is for the consultation on attendance allowance.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
The consultation “Self-sufficient local government: 100% business rates retention”, published 5 July 2016, reiterates that the Government will consider giving more responsibility to councils in England to support older people with care needs – including people who, under the current system, would be supported through Attendance Allowance. Any new policy would protect existing claimants, and any new responsibilities would be matched by the transfer of equivalent spending power.
The consultation “Self-sufficient local government: 100% business rates retention” closes at 12.00am on 26 September 2016, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/self-sufficient-local-government-100-business-rates-retention
This is an open consultation and all interested parties are invited to respond. The Government would consult further in good time if changes are proposed.
Asked by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent East)
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 reducing the benefit cap on (a) homelessness and (b) temporary accommodation costs borne by local authorities.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
The Government set out its assessment of the impacts of the policies in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on 20th July. A link to the impact assessment is included.
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-006.pdf
Asked by: Dawn Butler (Labour - Brent East)
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 reductions in the benefit cap on local authority budgets.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
The Government set out its assessment of the impacts of the policies in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill on 20th July. A link to the impact assessment is included.
http://www.parliament.uk/documents/impact-assessments/IA15-006.pdf