Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the oral contribution of the Minister for Data and Digital Infrastructure of 14 June 2023 at Topical Questions, T7, Official Report, column 286, what plans his Department has to (a) utilise the provisions in Part 3 of the Data Protection and Digital Information (No. 2) Bill and (b) use smart data in new sectors.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
There is potential to explore Smart Data in further sectors, beyond Open Banking. Government, regulators and industry experts are working together via the Smart Data Council to ensure that the UK continues to be at the forefront of developments in this space.
Before committing to utilise the provisions in Part 3 of the Data Protection and Digital Information (No.2) Bill in any given sector, there is work to be done to understand how Smart Data can empower consumers and turbo charge competition.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley 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 adequacy of the expertise of assessors who are conducting health assessments for Industrial Injuries Disablement benefits on former mineworkers in taking into account the often-complex health issues they are likely to have.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The assessment provider, Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA), is required to ensure that all healthcare professionals (HCP) carrying out Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) assessments have sufficient training and knowledge of the clinical aspects, and likely overall functional effects of, a wide range of health conditions and impairments.
IIDB assessments are undertaken by doctors who have successfully completed an initial IIDB training programme. If they are assessing a respiratory disease, they must complete additional respiratory disease training; which ensures that the HCPs are fully competent in managing the complex health issues that mineworkers may suffer from.
Assessment quality is a priority for both CHDA and the department. We work closely with disabled people and their representatives to shape how assessments are delivered and to improve every stage of the claimant journey. This includes making improvements to guidance, training, and audit procedures to ensure a quality service.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley 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 adequacy of the administration of the health assessments for Industrial Injuries Disablement benefits by the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments on former mineworkers.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The assessment provider, Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA), is required to ensure that all healthcare professionals (HCP) carrying out Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) assessments have sufficient training and knowledge of the clinical aspects, and likely overall functional effects of, a wide range of health conditions and impairments.
IIDB assessments are undertaken by doctors who have successfully completed an initial IIDB training programme. If they are assessing a respiratory disease, they must complete additional respiratory disease training; which ensures that the HCPs are fully competent in managing the complex health issues that mineworkers may suffer from.
Assessment quality is a priority for both CHDA and the department. We work closely with disabled people and their representatives to shape how assessments are delivered and to improve every stage of the claimant journey. This includes making improvements to guidance, training, and audit procedures to ensure a quality service.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of claims for Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefits which are refused following medical assessment but are subsequently overturned at Tribunal are fully backdated and paid out in full to the claimant.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
All Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) claims overturned at Tribunal will be paid full arrears for the appropriate period in line with the Tribunal’s decision, unless the Tribunal’s decision is overturned in any subsequent appeal to the Upper Tribunal or a Higher Court.
Information on appeals in the First-tier Tribunal, including IIDB appeals, is published at: www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.
Specifically, information on the number of appeal receipts, disposals and outcomes of IIDB appeals, can be found in the Social Security and Child Support (SSCS) tables: SSCS_1, SSCS_2 and SSCS_3 of the Main Tables.
The information requested on the proportion of IIDB claims which are refused following medical assessment, but are subsequently overturned at Tribunal that are fully backdated and paid out in full to the claimant, is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what financial support the Government offers people waiting for appointments for long-term medical problems if they are unable to work due to their condition.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Statutory Sick Pay is both administered and paid entirely by employers at a rate of £99.35 per week. It provides a measure of earnings replacement to employees who are sick and incapable of work. Employers are required to pay it at the legal minimum rate for up to 28 weeks where an employee meets the qualifying conditions. Many employers decide to pay more, and for longer, through Occupational Sick Pay.
People whose capability for work is affected because they are disabled or have a health condition, may be eligible for Universal Credit and/or New Style Employment and Support Allowance, subject to satisfying their eligibility conditions. The Work Capability Assessment determines an individual’s capability for work. For people found to have limited capability for work, their Jobcentre work coach uses their discretion to set work-related activity, appropriate to the claimant's circumstances and capability, to help them prepare to start work when they are able. People who have limited capability for work and work-related activity are not required to carry out any work-related activity but can do so if they wish.
People who have a long-term health condition or disability may also be eligible for Personal Independence Payment, to help with the extra costs of living they may face.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
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 amount withheld by her Department through its policy of suspending Personal Independence Payments when claimants are hospitalised for more than 28 days in each year since 2012.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the fairness of her Department's policy to suspend Personal Independence Payments when claimants are hospitalised for more than 28 days.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Where an adult aged 18 or over is maintained free of charge while undergoing medical or other treatment as an in-patient in a hospital or similar institution funded by the NHS, payment of, but not entitlement to, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) ceases after 28 days. This is on the basis that the NHS is responsible for the entirety of the person’s disability-related extra costs and to pay PIP in addition would be a duplication of public funds intended for the same purpose. Once someone is discharged from hospital, payment of PIP recommences from the date of discharge.
We have no plans to change these rules.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Government has plans to amend the policy that only the first £10 of the war disablement pension can be disregarded in means tests for pension credit.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The Government acknowledges the contribution ex-service personal have made and in Pension Credit the first £10 of War Disablement Pension is disregarded when calculating a person’s weekly income. Furthermore, four additions to the War Disablement Pension are completely disregarded in the Pension Credit assessment; these are Constant Attendance Allowance, Mobility Supplement, Severe Disablement Occupational Allowance and dependency increases for anyone other than the applicant or his partner. War Pensions are also considered as qualifying income for the savings credit part of Pension Credit.
Pension Credit is the income related benefit for pensioners. There are no plans to change Pension Credit to increase the current £10 War Pension disregard.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average length of wait time is for appeals against a work capability assessment decision in the latest period for which data is available.
Answered by Chloe Smith
The median clearance time for Employment and Support Allowance Work Capability Assessment (WCA) appeals completed in the period January – March 2022 was 108 calendar days.
The clearance time is the difference between the dates an appeal is lodged and its clearance, as recorded as occurring on DWP computer systems. Appeal clearance events may include a tribunal hearing decision, the appeal being lapsed (where DWP change the decision in favour of the claimant after an appeal was lodged but before it was heard at tribunal) or the appeal being withdrawn or struck out.
This information is based on data taken from DWP computer system’s management information. Therefore this data may differ from that held by Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service for various reasons such as delays in data recording and other methodological differences in collating and preparing statistics.
There are currently no Official Statistics on number and outcomes of Work Capability Assessments for Universal Credit, and no plans to publish at this time.
Asked by: Stephanie Peacock (Labour - Barnsley East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of appeals against a work capability assessment decisions are (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful in the latest period for which data is available.
Answered by Chloe Smith
Statistics on Employment and Support Allowance Work Capability Assessment (WCA) outcomes are published quarterly. The latest figures covering the outcome of completed initial and repeat WCAs, including appeals decisions, can be found at:
Additional breakdowns of these figures are available on Stat-Xplore:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/
Guidance for users is available at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html
There are currently no Official Statistics on number and outcomes of Work Capability Assessments for Universal Credit, and no plans to publish at this time.