Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Battersea constituency are in receipt of legacy benefits; how many of them have made applications to transition to universal credit; and what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that people are made aware of the transition to universal credit.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We are not able to provide information on how many legacy claimants made a claim or migrated (transitioned) to Universal Credit (UC) in Battersea and to do so would incur disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
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 potential causes of changes in levels of disabled people becoming unemployed; and what steps his Department is taking to help prevent increases in the number of disabled people becoming unemployed.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The number of working-age disabled people who are unemployed decreased by 130,000 between Q1 (January-March) 2014 and Q1 2023 (A08). Analysis suggests that the increase in the number of disabled people in employment, during the same period, was driven primarily by rising disability prevalence and a strengthening of the overall labour market, particularly prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Employment of disabled people 2022).
The number of working-age (16-64) disabled people who are unemployed was 340,000 in Q1 2023. This figure is unchanged from Q1 2022, therefore no assessment has been made of the potential causes of changes in levels of disabled people becoming unemployed. Our annual official statistics provide further analysis on disabled individuals who flow out of work each year, be that to unemployment or economic inactivity (Employment of disabled people 2022).
The Government announced a wide-reaching package at the Spring Budget to support disabled people, and people with health conditions, to stay in, and return to, work. New investment broadens access to additional Work Coach support for disabled people and people with health conditions, introduces a new supported employment programme and focuses on providing faster access to joined-up work and health support, including for mental health and musculoskeletal conditions.
This new investment builds on our existing package of support to help disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work. These include increasing Work Coach support in Jobcentres; Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres; the Work and Health Programme and Intensive Personalised Employment Support; Access to Work grants; Disability Confident; the Information and Advice Service; and work to further join up employment and health systems, including Employment Advice in NHS Talking Therapies.
Sources:
A08: Labour market status of disabled people - Office for National Statistics (ons.gov.uk).
Employment of disabled people 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the rate of statutory sick pay on the numbers of disabled employees leaving work.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
We have not made a robust assessment of the number of disabled people who have left work due to the rate of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP).
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will provide dedicated funding for assistive technology to support disabled people to access services in jobcentres.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
I would refer to the answer already given at PQ 181920 in relation to the support provided to customers in our Jobcentres.
As part of its commitment to make services accessible to all customers, the Department provides computers for customer use in Jobcentres which have assistive technology built into them and are managed separately from the wider DWP IT estate. The Department also provides a range of peripheral items in each Jobcentre such as alternative keyboards. This provision has funding identified and ring-fenced within the current spending review period.
The DWP have also improved access to our Wi-Fi services in all Jobcentres, allowing customers to use their own personal devices if they prefer.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what step his Department is taking to make job centres accessible.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Each jobcentre is constructed to the legislation relevant at the time of the project. Legislation continues to evolve leading to newer sites typically including more inclusive design than older ones.
Access audits are now being carried out for all new building acquisitions and major refurbishment projects. Recommendations from these audits then become part of the scope for the works being carried out.
Where individual access issues have been identified, local operational adjustments are made to support the claimant.
The Department is committed to improving access and inclusion for colleagues and members of the public through the on-going development of its jobcentre design guides. The design guides provide the standards for future properties and major refurbishments of existing sites.
Assistive technology is provided in new jobcentres and in locations where major refurbishment work is being carried out. The assistive technology being provided is briefly summarised below:
We also offer a range of services and assistive technology to help claimants who have accessibility needs including Video Relay Service, Next Generation Text Relay, braille and large print, free phoneline, audio CD and home visits.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many jobcentres there are in the UK; and how many and what proportion of these are fully accessible for disabled people.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The DWP has a network of 637 permanent Jobcentres, and 164 temporary Jobcentres in Great Britain (Scotland, England and Wales). Each permanent Jobcentre was designed following relevant legislation at the time of the fit out work and remain compliant.
The DWP opened temporary Jobcentres in response to the COVID 19 pandemic; the vast majority of these centres were also accessible to the public. Where an accessible building could not be found, a temporary Jobcentre would be partnered with a permanent or ‘parent’ site. Before attending a first appointment, customers are asked if they have any access requirements and seen at a permanent site if needed.
The DWP prioritises customer accessibility in our buildings. Entrances are step free, doors are automated where possible, or team members will open doors for customers, and customers can be seen at ground floor or building entry level.
The DWP works to Approved Document M (or equivalent in the devolved nations) and BS8300; a building can meet the guidance in these documents, however a building may not be deemed to be ‘fully accessible’ in meeting the needs of each unique disability. Where individual accessibility challenges arise, we will work on a case-by-case basis to support our customers.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people who were not awarded the Personal Independence Payment following (a) the initial decision and (b) mandatory reconsideration (i) lodged an appeal which then lapsed in each of the last five years and (ii) were awarded at least one enhanced component.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The table below shows the number and proportion of individuals awarded Personal Independence Payment (PIP) due to a lapsed appeal, following an initial decision and a mandatory reconsideration decision to not award PIP by the financial year of the initial decision. Volumes and proportions of this group receiving at least one enhanced component of PIP have also been provided.
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of individuals awarded PIP due to a lapsed appeal, following an initial decision and MR decision to not award PIP | Proportion of those not awarded PIP following an initial decision and MR decision, that were awarded PIP due to a lapsed appeal | Number of individuals awarded PIP due to a lapsed appeal, following an initial decision and MR decision to not award PIP and receiving at least one enhanced component | Proportion of those awarded PIP due to a lapsed appeal, following an initial decision and MR decision to not award PIP receiving at least one enhanced component |
2018/19 | 6,400 | 8% | 3,500 | 54% |
2019/20 | 8,700 | 11% | 4,700 | 55% |
2020/21 | 8,000 | 14% | 4,100 | 51% |
2021/22 | 7,100 | 9% | 3,200 | 44% |
2022/23* | 2,800 | 5% | 1,100 | 39% |
Please note:
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
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 effectiveness of the capabilities of the Universal Support scheme to support blind and partially sighted people to find and retain employment.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Universal Support is a supported employment programme which will support disabled people, people with health conditions, and people with additional barriers, to employment into sustained work. Universal Support will include help for the individual to address issues like debt, manage their health condition and help employers to put in place job shaping or other adjustments to accommodate the individual’s needs.
Through Universal Support, more disabled people will have access to this ‘Place, Train and Maintain’ approach to employment support. This means placing participants in work at the earliest opportunity, training them to do their job effectively, and providing ongoing support to sustain them in work. That job placement will be based on a good understanding of what the participant wants to achieve, and the employer and participant receiving support through the recruitment process and into the workplace to sustain that employment.
Supported employment programmes have a history of enabling people with a range of health conditions and disabilities into work, including people with visual impairments. For example, Individual Placement and Support (IPS) has been delivered across the world with positive impacts. The DWP-commissioned health-led trials showed that this kind of employment support can be effective when delivered to people with a range of physical and mental health conditions. Other trials of IPS have also repeatedly demonstrated the ability of supported employment to make a positive impact on employment outcomes.
The scope of the programme’s support and the timetable and delivery approach for Universal Support will be confirmed following stakeholder engagement including with organisations with expertise in supported employment and provision for disabled people.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when his Department plans to open the Universal Support scheme for applications; and if he will publish the eligibility criteria for that scheme.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Universal Support will begin in 2024 and will provide up to 12 months of high-quality Supported Employment, which adheres to the five stage Supported Employment Model of place, train and maintain.
Universal Support will support disabled people, people with health conditions, and people with additional barriers to employment, into sustained work. Full eligibility criteria and the timetable and delivery approach for Universal Support will be confirmed following stakeholder engagement, including with local commissioners and the devolved administrations.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government plans to take to support parent carers of disabled children with returning to work.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Our Work Coaches already offer employment support to people claiming welfare benefits, who are carers of disabled children. Any work related requirements and support should be tailored to a claimant’s individual circumstances and capabilities, including their caring responsibilities.
Support could include access to skills provision, careers advice, job search support and volunteering opportunities, as well as access to the Flexible Support Fund to aid job entry, and help with childcare costs. Work Coaches can tailor the frequency of interviews and can contact claimants via phone or use the on-line journal to accommodate their caring responsibilities.
Full time carers of severely disabled children are not required to undertake any work-related activities, but can seek support on a voluntary basis if they wish.
Additionally, Universal Credit claimants who start work may be able to access the UC Work Allowance and Taper, enabling them to keep more of what they earn.