Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether Alternative Payment arrangements to cover some of a Universal Credit claimant's housing costs, together with a local authority's discretionary housing payments for any shortfall, are working satisfactorily.
Answered by Lord Henley
The Department works closely with Local Authorities to ensure tenants are able to meet their housing costs. Where it is in a claimant’s best interests to have their housing costs paid direct to the landlord, for example because they have difficulty budgeting or have problems with arrears, an alternative payment arrangement can be put in place. This does not change the overall amount of the Universal Credit award, simply how it is paid.
Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) can be made to people who are in receipt of either Housing Benefit or a Universal Credit award that includes an amount for housing costs and who have difficulty meeting their rent commitments. These payments are very flexible and are made at the discretion of the Local Authority (LA) where they consider that further financial assistance towards housing costs are required. Universal Credit claimants who meet the eligibility criteria are considered for a DHP award in the same way as anyone else.
DWP does not see any reason why Discretionary Housing Payments cannot be paid to Universal Credit claimants who have Managed Payments to their Landlord in place.
However, if a Local Authority decides not to accept an application for DHP on the grounds that a managed payment to the landlord is in place, guidance is clear that DWP can, in agreement with the claimant, remove that arrangement to allow the application to be made.
Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether claimants of Universal Credit are always told when housing costs revert to them at the end of any set period for Alternative Payment arrangements, or when those arrangements are due for renewal.
Answered by Lord Henley
Alternative Payment Arrangements whereby an individual's housing costs are paid directly to their landlord are time-limited and delivered in conjunction with appropriate budgeting support to help claimants successfully make the transition to monthly budgeting. The Department's Work Coach maintains an ongoing conversation with the claimant about their financial capability, which includes reviewing the Alternative Payment Arrangement with the claimant when the review date matures.
When reviewing the Alternative Payment Arrangement the Work Coach considers the outcomes from the budgeting support and advice the claimant has received in the interim and discusses whether the claimant now feels financially capable to manage their Universal Credit payment themselves. The claimant’s Universal Credit records will be noted accordingly with the outcomes of the review and any new review date that may be set in conjunction with the claimant. The claimant is therefore kept informed as to whether or not they have responsibility for their own housing costs.
Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to ensure that there is adequate support for vulnerable Universal Credit claimants who do not have housing support staff.
Answered by Lord Henley
The Universal Credit service is designed to support the needs of those claimants whose often complex, sometimes multiple, barriers and conditions are preventing them from finding and staying in work, or risk them struggling to engage independently with Universal Credit and the opportunities it offers.
For example, as part of the first Interview, the Work Coach and the claimant will discuss the claimant’s ability to manage their monthly payment and pay bills on time. Where appropriate, the Work Coach will refer the claimant for Personal Budgeting Support including money advice. Health, disability and other personal circumstances may also be discussed.
The Work Coach will also determine if an Alternative Payment Arrangement is needed. Alternative Payment Arrangements can include managed payment of Universal Credit housing costs to their landlord, more frequent payments; and split payments within a household in exceptional cases.
As we continue to deliver the full Universal Credit service, with its expanded claimant base, we are continually reviewing and developing the current vulnerable claimant customer journey, including how vulnerable people are identified and how they are supported both internally and via referral to local services delivered in partnership activity.
Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will extend Disability Living Allowance to children under the age of three who suffer from severe medical conditions which require them to have bulky medical equipment with them at all times.
Answered by Lord Freud
Families with children under the age of three are able to claim the care component of Disability Living Allowance where the child’s care needs are substantially in excess of the needs of a child of the same age without a disability.
From 9 April 2001, the age condition for entitlement to the higher rate mobility component was lowered from 5 years to 3 years. In deciding to set the lower age limit, the department considered views of medical advisors and independent research; while the development of walking ability varies from child to child, by age 3 it was felt that it is realistically possible in the majority of cases to make an informed decision as to whether an inability to walk is the result of disability.
We do however appreciate the difficulties that some families with severely disabled children aged under 3 face. We have met stakeholders at both Ministerial and official level to hear their concerns first-hand and are continuing to consider the matter.
Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the current guidance on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) mobility tests allows PIP assessors to take account of a claimant's means of arrival at the assessment centre when deciding on the distance that the claimant can walk.
Answered by Lord Freud
The Personal Independence Payment Assessment Guide (PIPAG) highlights that any examination should be tailored to the individual claimant. There is no specific guidance on taking account of a claimant’s means of arrival at the assessment centre as this does not form part of a routine PIP assessment. The PIPAG is clear that the health professional should explore how the claimant manages their mobility needs on a “typical day”, which might include the day of the assessment, and should explore both “good” and “bad” days.
Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether Personal Independence Payment mobility assessors are entitled to carry out a walking distance test of claimants.
Answered by Lord Freud
The Personal Independence Payment Assessment Guide highlights that any examination should be tailored to the individual claimant. There is no specific guidance on walking tests as this does not form part of a routine PIP assessment.
Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how businesses wanting to be involved with the Disability Confident Business Leaders Group can do so.
Answered by Lord Freud
Disability Confident is about employers influencing other employers, sharing their evidence and experiences in employing disabled people with other employers to encourage them to also make the journey. This employer led approach will be reinforced by establishing a Business Leaders Group, with membership from Disability Confident employers across a wide range of sectors, sizes and geographic areas.
We are currently finalising the Terms of Reference for the group and will then begin seeking members. Any employers interested in being involved should email disabilityconfident.scheme@dwp.gsi.gov.uk, using Disability Confident Business Leaders Group in the subject heading and giving brief details of their organisation and any previous involvement.
Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government how they will define those individuals with severe and lifelong disabling conditions who will not be subject to repeated reassessments for benefits.
Answered by Lord Freud
We will be working over the coming months with medical professionals and other stakeholders to develop criteria that will help us identify those with the most severe health conditions or disabilities, for whom repeat work capability assessments can be stopped.
Rather than a list of specific medical conditions, the criteria will be based on identifying claimants with the most severe health conditions or disabilities where it would be unreasonable to expect the individual to undertake any form or amount of work or work-related activity. This change will only apply to those placed in the Support Group and Universal Credit equivalent.
Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the impact of inflation on those who rely on benefits.
Answered by Lord Freud
Central to the Government’s long term economic plan is the creation of jobs and making work pay. We know that work is the best route out of poverty so our welfare reforms are focussed on supporting those people who can work to find and keep work rather than rely on benefits, ensuring fairness and affordability for the tax payer. We are committed to balancing incentivising work with protecting pensioners and those who cannot work, and help with the costs of additional needs. That is why benefits for the additional costs of disability, and for carers, are up-rated each year in line with prices, and the basic and new State Pensions are up-rated with our triple lock guarantee.
Asked by: Baroness Thomas of Winchester (Liberal Democrat - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have made an assessment of the amount of benefits to which people are entitled that go unclaimed.
Answered by Lord Freud
On 28th June 2016 the Department for Work and Pensions published the report “Income-related benefits: Estimates of take-up in 2014/15”. The full report has been published online.
For Great Britain, the following estimates are available for 2014/15: