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Written Question
Universal Credit
Monday 18th December 2017

Asked by: Paul Sweeney (Labour (Co-op) - Glasgow North 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 potential effect of the roll-out of universal credit on levels of personal debt.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)

The Government has taken a number of steps to reduce the risk of problem debt, including capping payday lending costs and promoting savings.

Within Universal Credit, we also have interest free advances and a system of priority deductions to help claimants who have got into arrears.

Written Question
Social Security Benefits: Glasgow North East
Monday 18th December 2017

Asked by: Paul Sweeney (Labour (Co-op) - Glasgow North East)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) work and capability and (b) personal independence payment assessment decisions have been appealed successfully in (i) absolute terms and (ii) as a percentage in Glasgow North East constituency in each of the last three years.

Answered by Sarah Newton

(a) The information for Employment Support Allowance (ESA) work capability assessments (WCA) is not readily available and can only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

(b) The following table shows the number of Personal Independence Payment decisions that have been overturned on appealed in the Glasgow North East constituency in each of the last three years:

#

Claims

Decisions overturned at appeal

% of decisions overturned at appeal

2014/2015

1700

50

3%

2015/2016

2350

170

7%

2016/2017

3080

180

6%

Data is taken from the DWP PIP computer system’s management information.

Written Question
Universal Credit
Tuesday 12th December 2017

Asked by: Paul Sweeney (Labour (Co-op) - Glasgow North East)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has assessed the effect on people who make weekly rent payments of receiving monthly payments under universal credit.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)

I refer the Member to the answer given on 12 December 2017 to PQ 7537.

Written Question
Universal Credit: Glasgow North East
Tuesday 12th December 2017

Asked by: Paul Sweeney (Labour (Co-op) - Glasgow North East)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that the roll-out of universal credit in Glasgow North East constituency will not result in an increase in child poverty.

Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)

Work is the best route out of poverty, and Universal Credit supports parents to move into and progress in work, and raises the income of families.

Since 2010 the number of children growing up in households where no one works has fallen by half a million.

Written Question
Young People: Disability
Monday 11th December 2017

Asked by: Paul Sweeney (Labour (Co-op) - Glasgow North East)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps he has taken to ensure that the right support is offered to young disabled people who are seeking independence through work or volunteering.

Answered by Sarah Newton

This Government is committed to enabling young disabled people to fulfil their potential and achieve their aspirations. We provide a wide suite of programmes and initiatives to support them, including:

  • Jobcentre support for schools, which targets young people that schools identify as being at risk of becoming NEET (not in employment, education or training), or who may otherwise be disadvantaged in the labour market – for example those with a health or disability issue.
  • The Young Person’s Supported Work Experience programme, which will offer a personally tailored supported work experience opportunity to enable young people (aged 18 – 24) to benefit fully from time in the work place. This proof of concept is being tested in five districts.
  • The Local Supported Employment (LSE) proof of concept ‘place and train’ model, which aims to move disabled people into real jobs, at the going rate of pay, with support for both the individual and employer.
  • Supported Internships, which, all qualified post-16 education providers in England have been able to deliver Since September 2013. These are personalised study programmes, based primarily at a prospective employer, for young people with complex learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
  • Access to Work, which already offers support to disabled people undertaking a number of opportunities that help them to prepare for paid employment, including work experience, apprenticeships, supported internships and traineeships.

DWP also recognises the value of voluntary work in developing skills which can be transferred into the world of paid work, as well as benefitting local communities and wider society.

  • Disabled young people who are claiming Universal Credit can have their weekly work search hours reduced by up to 50 per cent to accommodate voluntary work.
  • Those who are receiving Employment and Support Allowance can try out work when this has been agreed beforehand with their work coach, without their benefit being affected. Restrictions on this Permitted Work were relaxed in April 2017 so that any ESA claimant can do this work within certain limits.