Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 08 Nov 2021
Oral Answers to Questions
"On Friday, I visited the Fallowfield and Withington food bank. It is as busy as ever and expecting a surge in demand as a result of the recent changes to benefits. If Government support for people on benefits is adequate, why does the Minister think that so many of my …..."Jeff Smith - View Speech
View all Jeff Smith (Lab - Manchester Withington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
Monday 25th January 2021
Asked by:
Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question
to the Department for Work and Pensions:
What progress her Department is making on the publication of its review into access to benefits for people with a terminal illness, announced in July 2019.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
The Department is working across Government on proposals, including potential legislative options, following the evaluation. I remain committed to implementing the key areas identified in the evaluation, changing the 6-month wait, improving awareness and consistency.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 19 Oct 2020
Oral Answers to Questions
" What assessment she has made of the effectiveness of resuming (a) benefits sanctions and (b) welfare conditionality during increased levels of unemployment as a result of the covid-19 outbreak. ..."Jeff Smith - View Speech
View all Jeff Smith (Lab - Manchester Withington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 19 Oct 2020
Oral Answers to Questions
"In Manchester, Withington there are 3,000 more people needing to claim unemployment benefits than this time last year, and unemployment is rising and will get worse at the end of the furlough scheme, so there are not 3,000 jobs for those people to go to. Suspending sanctions and welfare conditionality …..."Jeff Smith - View Speech
View all Jeff Smith (Lab - Manchester Withington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 19 Oct 2020
Oral Answers to Questions
" My constituent Joseph made a claim for industrial injuries disablement benefit in January. His assessment, along with all the other new assessments, was postponed because of covid, so he is living with the extra costs that come with having an industrial disease, but he does not have the extra …..."Jeff Smith - View Speech
View all Jeff Smith (Lab - Manchester Withington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
Monday 7th September 2020
Asked by:
Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question
to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on potential difficulties that people with mental health problems have in applying for benefits during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Ministers and officials of both Departments hold regular discussions relating to the ongoing covid-19 outbreak including its impact on people with health conditions.
My Department has provided mental health training for staff who have direct contact with claimants, including all Work Coaches, to equip them to identify mental wellbeing issues or vulnerabilities, and to take appropriate action to support individuals. Work Coaches will tailor support to the needs of the individual and work closely with local organisations that provide additional specialist support.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 29 Jun 2020
Oral Answers to Questions
" What recent estimate her Department has made of the number of universal credit applicants awaiting a decision on applications made since the start of the covid-19 outbreak. ..."Jeff Smith - View Speech
View all Jeff Smith (Lab - Manchester Withington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 29 Jun 2020
Oral Answers to Questions
"Citizens Advice found recently that more than half of people claiming universal credit for the first time during the crisis had experienced hardship and that many did not want to take out a loan because they were afraid of taking on more debt. A system where more than half of …..."Jeff Smith - View Speech
View all Jeff Smith (Lab - Manchester Withington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Mon 29 Jun 2020
Oral Answers to Questions
" Will the Secretary of State clarify whether the Government intend to keep their manifesto commitment to maintaining the pensions triple lock?..."Jeff Smith - View Speech
View all Jeff Smith (Lab - Manchester Withington) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Written Question
Wednesday 5th February 2020
Asked by:
Jeff Smith (Labour - Manchester Withington)
Question
to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent estimate she has made of the average waiting time for an appeal to be resolved by internal review on claims for (a) universal credit, (b) personal independence payment and (c) employment support allowance.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Information on the average time to lapse an appeal is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.