Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to support benefit claimants in Newport West constituency to meet increased costs of living.
Answered by David Rutley - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This Government is wholly committed to supporting those on low incomes, and continues to do so through many measures, including by spending over £110 billion on welfare support for people of working age in 2021/22.
With the success of the vaccine rollout and record job vacancies, our focus now is on continuing to support people into and to progress in work. Our multi-billion-pound Plan for Jobs, which has recently been expanded by £500 million, will help people across the UK to find work and to boost their wages and prospects.
Universal Credit recipients in work can now benefit from a reduction in the Universal Credit taper rate from 63% to 55%, and an increase in the work allowance by £500 per year meaning that working households will be able to keep substantially more of what they earn. These measures effectively represent a tax cut, worth around £2.2bn a year in 2022-23, for the lowest paid in society and will benefit almost two million of the lowest paid workers by £1000 a year on average. We are also increasing the National Living Wage by 6.6% to £9.50 an hour from April 2022.
We recognise that some people may require extra support over the winter, which is why vulnerable households across the country will now be able to access a new £500 million support fund to help them with essentials. The Barnett Formula will apply in the usual way, with the Welsh Government receiving £25m. We understand that the Welsh Government is releasing extra funding from its reserves to target support towards lower income households, providing immediate support for people facing rising living costs this winter.
To support low-income families further we have increased the value of Healthy Start Food Vouchers from £3.10 to £4.25, helping eligible low income households buy basic foods like milk, fruit and vitamins.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport 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 increasing statutory sick pay in response to the resumption of required quarantine and self isolation.
Answered by Chloe Smith
As part of the Government’s response to Covid-19, we have extended Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) to those who are sick or self-isolating due to coronavirus; for example, where they or a member of their household has tested positive. SSP is also payable from the first day of absence, rather than the fourth, where an employee is sick or self-isolating due to coronavirus. Individuals are not eligible for SSP where they are self-isolating or quarantining after entering or returning to the UK after travelling abroad.
SSP is just one part of our welfare safety net and our wider government offer to support people in times of need. Where an individual’s income is reduced while off work sick and they require further financial support they may be able to claim Universal Credit and new style Employment and Support Allowance, depending on their personal circumstances.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on the adequacy of legacy benefits for people with severe disabilities in Newport West constituency.
Answered by Chloe Smith
There is a well-established working relationship between the Department for Work and Pensions and the Welsh Government, ensuring that we work together on devolved and reserved areas effectively.
There are a number of legacy benefits but people with severe disabilities in Wales are most likely to be in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). ESA caseload data for Wales, at both local authority and constituency level can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/dwp-benefit-statistics-dissemination-tools#stat-xplore.
ESA is paid at different rates depending on an individual’s circumstances. In income-related ESA, claimants with severe disabilities may also be eligibility for additional amounts, such as the Enhanced Disability Premium and or the Severe Disability Premium. To reflect the functional impacts of their health condition or disability on their capability to work, claimants found to have limited capability for work and work related activity receive an additional support group component.
Claimants may also be eligible for Personal Independence Payment to help meet the extra costs of living faced by disabled people.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she has had with the devolved Administration on the adequacy of statutory sick pay.
Answered by Chloe Smith
SSP is a reserved policy within Great Britain. There is a well-established working relationship between the Department for Work and Pensions and the Welsh Government, ensuring that we work together on devolved and reserved areas effectively.
Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) provides a minimum level of income for employees when they are sick or incapable of work. It is paid by employers at £96.35 per week for up to 28 weeks in any one period of entitlement. Some employers may also decide to pay more, and for longer, through Occupational Sick Pay.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport 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 adequacy of financial support to pensioners in Newport West constituency for winter 2021-22.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
We spend over £129bn on benefits for pensioners in GB - 5.7% of GDP. This figure has never been higher. This includes spending on the State Pension which is forecast to be over £105bn in this financial year.
Pension Credit provides invaluable financial support for vulnerable pensioners. Around 1.4 million eligible pensioners across Great Britain receive some £5bn in Pension Credit, which tops up their retirement income and is a passport to other financial help such as support with housing costs, council tax, heating bills and a free TV licence for those over 75.
In addition, we also make Winter Fuel Payments worth £2 billion every year – £200 for households with somebody who has reached State Pension age and is under age 80; or £300 for households with somebody aged 80 and over.
The Warm Home Discount Scheme provides short-term support with energy bills through rebates, helping households stay warm and healthy in winter. The scheme currently provides those on Pension Credit Guarantee Credit with a £140 rebate off their winter energy bill.
Cold Weather Payments help vulnerable people in receipt of certain income-related benefits to meet additional heating costs during periods of unseasonably cold weather between 1st November and 31st March. This includes older people in receipt of Pension Credit. Those eligible will continue to automatically receive £25 when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0°C or below over seven consecutive days
The latest available data indicates that in Newport West constituency there are 2,423 pensioners claiming Pension Credit and 15,729 in receipt of a State Pension. In addition, in 2019/20 15,890 customers in Newport West received a winter fuel payment.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 23 November 2021 to Question 75126 on UN Climate Conference 2021: Government, how many Ministers in her Department travelled to COP26 by airplane.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State travelled to COP 26 on a commercial flight which used sustainable aviation fuel. This fuel is produced from sustainable feedstocks including waste cooking oil and other (non-palm) waste oils, and also from landfill material. It provides at least a 70% reduction in carbon emissions compared to traditional jet fuel.
Any unavoidable carbon emissions from COP26 will be offset, including those associated with travel.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions she has had with the Welsh Government on Women’s State Pension Age.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There have been no recent discussions with the Welsh Government about Women’s State Pension Age.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she last met representatives of the Women Against State Pension Inequality group.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Secretary of State has not met with representatives of the Women Against State Pension Inequality group.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what further steps she will take to address the concerns of the WASPI women.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Changes to State Pension age were made over a series of Acts by successive governments from 1995 onwards, following public consultations and extensive debates in both Houses of Parliament. The decision to equalise the State Pension age dates back to 1995, and addresses a longstanding inequality between men and women.
The Government’s position on the changes to State Pension age remains clear and consistent under successive governments. Any amendment to the current legislation which creates a new inequality between men and women would unquestionably be highly dubious as a matter of law.
Parliament set out successive Pensions Acts transitional arrangements when it introduced the changes to State Pension age. There are no plans for further transitional provisions.
State pension has risen by 2,050 in real terms since 2010 and with pensioner benefits of £129 billion, the state pension and supporting benefits have never been higher.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in Wales have experienced a delay in receiving their first state pension payment since July 2019.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This information is not collated as part of normal business and is only available at disproportionate cost to the Department.