Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many weeks of work-focused study a universal credit recipient can undertake without losing their entitlement; what criteria were used to decide how many weeks of work-focused study a universal credit recipient can undertake without losing their entitlement; and what criteria are set out in guidance for Jobcentre Plus advisors to assist them in deciding whether a universal credit recipient can undertake work-focused study without losing their entitlement.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Through DWP Train and Progress, UC claimants may undertake a full-time course of non-advanced study or training (not above level 3) for up to 12 weeks. This allows claimants who would benefit to undertake additional L3 opportunities that form part of the Lifetime Skills Guarantee in England (and devolved administration equivalents). This flexibility can be extended to up to 16 weeks to allow claimants to participate in DfE funded Skills Bootcamps. It should be noted that this initiative has been extended to April 2022.
UC claimants are able to take on part-time training for any level of course as long as they meet their work-related requirements and their Work Coach is satisfied it will fill a skills gap and will improve their prospects of moving into work more quickly. Where this is the case, the number of hours can be treated as a work preparation requirement and the time spent on the course can be deducted from the hours the claimant is expected to carry out work search activity. It should be noted that there is no limit on the length of part-time training claimants can undertake, in agreement with their Work Coach.
The criteria above is clearly set out in guidance for all Work Coaches to use in these circumstances.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the Government plans to publish its review of the special rules for making a claim for social security where a person is terminally ill.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department is committed to delivering an improved benefit system for claimants that are nearing the end of their lives and is working across Government to bring forward proposals following the evaluation. I remain committed to implementing the key areas identified in the evaluation; a consensus to change the six-month rule; improving consistency with other services used by people nearing the end of their lives; and raising awareness of the support that is available.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she has taken to publish guidance for claims made under the special rules for terminal illness including the fact that a DS1500 form is not required; and what steps she has taken to set out the alternative forms of evidence that will be accepted for such claims.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
DS1500 forms have never been a requirement for a claim under the Special Rules for Terminal Illness but remain the quickest and most appropriate route to gather evidence to support entitlement in these cases. Where it is not possible to supply a DS1500 in support of a terminal illness claim we will continue to consider alternative evidence and work flexibly and quickly with the claimant and/or their clinician(s) to make a quick determination. It is important to note that we have always done, and will continue to do, our utmost to process claims under the special rules as quickly as possible, even if a DS1500 either isn’t submitted or cannot be submitted.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
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 people in receipt of (a) the carer element of universal credit, (b) the carer addition and (c) the carer premium.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The available information on the number of households with a carer entitlement on Universal Credit, currently for August 2020, is published and can be found at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/
Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html
The latest available statistics on the number of Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support and Housing Benefit claimants in receipt of the carer premium, and the number of Pension Credit claimants in receipt of the carer addition are shown in the following table.
Number of Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support and Housing Benefit claimants in receipt of the carer premium and the number of Pension Credit claimants in receipt of the carer addition, Great Britain, Feb 20, May 20 and Aug 20
Benefit | Latest Quarter available | Number of recipients |
Jobseeker's Allowance | Feb-20 | 1,600 |
Income Support | May-20 | 200,000 |
Pension Credit | May-20 | 134,800 |
Housing Benefit | Aug-20 | 152,080 |
Source: DWP Quarterly Statistical Enquiry 5% data and 100% Work, Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS) and DWP Single Housing Benefit Extract
Notes
The information requested is not readily available for Employment and Support Allowance claimants and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many families with children received the £20 per week uplift in universal credit standard allowance payments, announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 20 March 2020, in (a) Wirral West constituency and (b) the UK, in each month since that uplift was introduced.
Answered by Will Quince
The available information on the number of households with children with Universal Credit in payment, by parliamentary constituency, is published and can be found at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/
Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
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 people affected by the decision of the Court of Appeal of 22 June 2020 in the case Johnson, Woods, Barrett and Stewart v. the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in Wirral West constituency.
Answered by Will Quince
I refer the Hon Members to the answer I gave on 1 July 2020 to Question UIN 63208:
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress she has made on the development of a national strategy for disabled people?.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The National Strategy for Disabled People is a key manifesto commitment for this Government and its delivery remains important for ministers, including No. 10. Its significance is even greater, as we re-build the UK's economy and society following the Covid-19 pandemic. We are now focusing on meaningful engagement with stakeholders, strengthening our evidence base and keeping momentum to deliver the high ambition strategy that the Prime Minister has called for.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
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 the covid-19 outbreak on the disability employment gap.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The latest data show that by Q1 2020, which covers the period up to the end of March 2020, there were 1.4 million more disabled people in work compared to Q1 2014, and the employment rate gap had closed from 33.8 percentage points to 28.6 percentage points in just six years. These data may be viewed here:
There will be a period until we have the robust data needed to fully assess any effects of the economic downturn on disabled people’s employment. We will continue to monitor employment of disabled people using the quarterly Labour Force Survey and other relevant sources.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Budget Statement of 11 March 2020, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of removing the universal credit minimum income floor for self-employed people that are not (a) self-isolating and (b) directly affected by covid-19 but see their income fall as a result of that pandemic.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are temporarily relaxing the Minimum Income Floor (MIF) for all self-employed UC claimants affected by the economic impact of COVID-19 from 6 April, for the duration of the outbreak. This means a drop in earnings due to sickness or self-isolation or as a result of the economic impact of the outbreak will be reflected in claimants’ awards.
Asked by: Margaret Greenwood (Labour - Wirral West)
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 potential merits of extending eligibility for statutory sick pay to parents who have to stop work as a result of their children's school being closed.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Statutory Sick Pay is not appropriate for people facing childcare issues rather than health ones. Parents who cannot work because of school closures should explore options with their employer. However, as both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that everyone should be supported to do the right thing.