Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2023 to Question 154037, how many and what proportion of participants in the additional jobcentre support pilot (a) made applications to be reimbursed for and (b) were reimbursed for the cost of travel above their weekly or fortnightly attendance.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The flexible support fund is there to assist claimants. The pilot is in its early stages, as such this requested information is not presently available.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Written Statement of 27 February 2023 on Additional Jobcentre Support – Pilot rollout, HCWS582, whether he has made an assessment of the ability of claimants to travel to 10 one to one job centre appointments within in a two week period.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The criteria for participation in Additional Jobcentre Support was developed following an Impact Assessment, to ensure that claimants can attend these appointments. Our Work Coaches will continue to tailor support based on the claimant’s needs and the eligibility criteria set for the pilot.
The Flexible Support Fund can assist with travel costs.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Written Statement of 27 February 2023 on Additional Jobcentre Support – Pilot rollout, HCWS582, whether claimants will be reimbursed travel costs for the one to one job centre appointments they are asked to attend in a two week period.
Answered by Guy Opperman
Claimants can request to be reimbursed for additional travel costs to Jobcentre appointments, over and above their weekly/fortnightly attendance, during the two-week period of intensive support. This follows usual processes.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)
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 Universal Credit claimants who have been made homeless due to the increase in rates of mortgage interest.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)
The primary purpose of SMI is to provide owner-occupiers receiving an income-related benefit with a level of support that is sufficient to protect them from the threat of repossession. Lenders recognise that the payments we make will not always mirror the mortgage-holders liability, but we expect that they will, nonetheless, exercise forbearance.
The rate at which SMI is paid changes only when the Bank of England’s average mortgage rate varies from the rate in payment by 0.5 percentage points or more. Through guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority, lenders are aware that a change to the rate of SMI payments is triggered only in these circumstances and so should continue to offer tailored forbearance to their customers.
While SMI is kept under review, there are currently no plans to amend this policy. There has been no assessment on the impact of rising mortgage repayments for those claimants who are in receipt of SMI. Therefore, there has been no estimate made on the number of Universal Credit claimants who have been made homeless due to increases in mortgage interest rates.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the impact of rising mortgage repayment rates on claimants for (a) Universal Credit and (b) other state benefits.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)
The primary purpose of SMI is to provide owner-occupiers receiving an income-related benefit with a level of support that is sufficient to protect them from the threat of repossession. Lenders recognise that the payments we make will not always mirror the mortgage-holders liability, but we expect that they will, nonetheless, exercise forbearance.
The rate at which SMI is paid changes only when the Bank of England’s average mortgage rate varies from the rate in payment by 0.5 percentage points or more. Through guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority, lenders are aware that a change to the rate of SMI payments is triggered only in these circumstances and so should continue to offer tailored forbearance to their customers.
While SMI is kept under review, there are currently no plans to amend this policy. There has been no assessment on the impact of rising mortgage repayments for those claimants who are in receipt of SMI. Therefore, there has been no estimate made on the number of Universal Credit claimants who have been made homeless due to increases in mortgage interest rates.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason Support for Mortgage Interest payable to Universal Credit claimants who make mortgage payments has not been revised and increased in line with mortgage interest rates.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)
The primary purpose of SMI is to provide owner-occupiers receiving an income-related benefit with a level of support that is sufficient to protect them from the threat of repossession. Lenders recognise that the payments we make will not always mirror the mortgage-holders liability, but we expect that they will, nonetheless, exercise forbearance.
The rate at which SMI is paid changes only when the Bank of England’s average mortgage rate varies from the rate in payment by 0.5 percentage points or more. Through guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority, lenders are aware that a change to the rate of SMI payments is triggered only in these circumstances and so should continue to offer tailored forbearance to their customers.
While SMI is kept under review, there are currently no plans to amend this policy. There has been no assessment on the impact of rising mortgage repayments for those claimants who are in receipt of SMI. Therefore, there has been no estimate made on the number of Universal Credit claimants who have been made homeless due to increases in mortgage interest rates.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department plans to raise the level of Support for Mortgage Interest payable to Universal Credit claimants who make mortgage payments, in the context of increases in inflation.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister (Women)
The primary purpose of SMI is to provide owner-occupiers receiving an income-related benefit with a level of support that is sufficient to protect them from the threat of repossession. Lenders recognise that the payments we make will not always mirror the mortgage-holders liability, but we expect that they will, nonetheless, exercise forbearance.
The rate at which SMI is paid changes only when the Bank of England’s average mortgage rate varies from the rate in payment by 0.5 percentage points or more. Through guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority, lenders are aware that a change to the rate of SMI payments is triggered only in these circumstances and so should continue to offer tailored forbearance to their customers.
While SMI is kept under review, there are currently no plans to amend this policy. There has been no assessment on the impact of rising mortgage repayments for those claimants who are in receipt of SMI. Therefore, there has been no estimate made on the number of Universal Credit claimants who have been made homeless due to increases in mortgage interest rates.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 8 December 2022 to Question 103036 on Cost of Living Payments: Medical Equipment, what assessment her Department has made of the adequacy of the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
No such assessment has been made. However, to ensure ongoing stability and certainty for households, in the Autumn Statement, we announced further support for next year designed to target the most vulnerable households. This cost of living support is worth £26 billion in 2023-24, in addition to uprating benefits for working age households and disabled people, as well as the basic and new State Pensions by 10.1%. In order to increase the number of households who can benefit from these uprating decisions, the benefit cap will also be increased by 10.1%. Alongside further Cost of Living Payments for the most vulnerable, the amended Energy Price Guarantee will save the average UK household £500 in 2023-24.
For those who require extra support, the Government is providing an additional £1 billion of funding, including Barnett impact, to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England in the next financial year. This is on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing total funding to £2.5 billion. In England, this will be delivered through an extension to the Household Support Fund backed by £842 million, running from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, which local authorities use to help households with the cost of essentials. It will be for the devolved administrations to decide how to allocate their additional Barnett funding.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has been made on the adequacy of the Cost of Living Payments for disabled people who have higher energy usage and are not on means tested benefits.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
No such assessment has been made. However, to ensure ongoing stability and certainty for households, in the Autumn Statement, we announced further support for next year designed to target the most vulnerable households. This cost of living support is worth £26 billion in 2023-24, in addition to uprating benefits for working age households and disabled people, as well as the basic and new State Pensions by 10.1%. In order to increase the number of households who can benefit from these uprating decisions, the benefit cap will also be increased by 10.1%. Alongside further Cost of Living Payments for the most vulnerable, the amended Energy Price Guarantee will save the average UK household £500 in 2023-24.
For those who require extra support, the Government is providing an additional £1 billion of funding, including Barnett impact, to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund in England in the next financial year. This is on top of what we have already provided since October 2021, bringing total funding to £2.5 billion. In England, this will be delivered through an extension to the Household Support Fund backed by £842 million, running from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024, which local authorities use to help households with the cost of essentials. It will be for the devolved administrations to decide how to allocate their additional Barnett funding.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Labour - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 8 December 2022 to Question 103036 on Cost of Living Payments: Medical Equipment, if he will increase the Disability Cost of Living Payment.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
The Government is providing extensive support to disabled people and those with a health condition to help them live independent lives. In 2022/23, we will spend around £66bn on benefits to support disabled people and people with health conditions in Great Britain, of which over £29bn will be on the extra costs benefits payable in England and Wales. As referenced in my answer to UIN 103036, we will also be uprating benefits for working age households and disabled people as well as the basic and new State Pensions by 10.1%.
In terms of cost of living support, and Cost of Living Payments, the Government’s position is that the highest amount of cost of living support should go to those on means-tested benefits as those on the lowest incomes will be most vulnerable to rises in the cost of living.