Asked by: Lord Young of Cookham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of not renewing funding for the Household Support Fund on unpaid family carers.
Answered by Viscount Younger of Leckie - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
At Spring Budget the Chancellor announced a six-month extension of the Household Support Fund, to continue to provide targeted support to those most in need. The government is providing an additional £500m to enable the extension of the Household Support Fund, including funding for the Devolved Administrations through the Barnett formula to be spent at their discretion. This means that Local Authorities in England will receive an additional £421m to support those in need locally through the Household Support Fund.
This Government recognises and values the vital contribution made by carers in supporting some of the most vulnerable in society, including pensioners and those with disabilities. Carer’s Allowance is available to provide a measure of financial support and recognition for people who are not able to work full time because of their caring responsibilities. The rate of Carer’s Allowance is £76.75 a week, from April 2024 this will increase to £81.90 a week. Since 2010, the rate of Carer’s Allowance will have increased from £53.90 to £81.90 a week from April 2024, providing around an £1500 a year for carers through Carer’s Allowance.
In addition to Carer’s Allowance, carers on low incomes can claim income-related benefits such as Universal Credit and Pension Credit. These benefits can be paid to carers at a higher rate than those without caring responsibilities through the carer element and the additional amount for carers respectively.
Receiving a means-tested benefit can act as a “passport” to other support, including help with fuel costs through schemes such as the Warm Home Discount, so carers who are not receiving a means-tested benefit already are encouraged to check whether they might be entitled. Full details of all DWP benefits are available on Gov.UK. Help and Advice can also be sought from bodies such as Carers UK, Carers Trust, and Citizens Advice through their Help to Claim support.
Asked by: Lord Young of Cookham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Penn on 19 July (HL Deb col 4), how many retired pensioners have been issued with pre-payment cards.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
The Department of Work and Pensions does not offer pre-paid cards. The main method of paying customers is into a standard bank, building society or credit union account. However, there are exceptions in limited circumstances.
The Department currently provides two Payment Exception Services which allow customers access to their payments. These are Her Majesty’s Government Payment Exception Service (HMG PES) and the Post Office Card account.
The Payment Exception Service is aimed at those customers who are unbanked and are either unable to open or use a bank account. It is designed for access to cash only. The contract expires 30 September 2021, but a similar procured new Payment Exception Service will replace HMG PES.
The Post Office Card Account is a basic deposit service for benefits and pensions, delivered by Post Office Limited on behalf of the Department. This service is due to end and customers will either convert to a standard bank, building society or credit union account. Those customers who are unable to open or use an account will be migrated to the new Payment Exception Service on a staged basis from August 2021.
Asked by: Lord Young of Cookham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was paid in compensation to beneficiaries of Disability Living Allowance because of financial abuse by their appointees, for the latest year for which figures are available.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
Where an allegation of financial abuse is confirmed, that is, that the DLA received by the appointee has not been used in the best interests of the claimant, the appointment is revoked. However, compensation is not paid.
Asked by: Lord Young of Cookham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how many individuals received Disability Living Allowance in the latest year for which figures are available.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
From the latest published benefit expenditure and caseload tables, in 2019/20 the average caseload of people in receipt of Disability Living Allowance was 1.539 million, with nominal terms expenditure of £7.233 billion.
Asked by: Lord Young of Cookham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was paid in Disability Living Allowance in the latest year for which figures are available.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
From the latest published benefit expenditure and caseload tables, in 2019/20 the average caseload of people in receipt of Disability Living Allowance was 1.539 million, with nominal terms expenditure of £7.233 billion.
Asked by: Lord Young of Cookham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the legal basis of the benefits appointee system.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
Appointments are made under regulation 33 of The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987/1968 for legacy benefits and regulation 57 of The Universal Credits, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013/380 for the New Style benefits. Both are supplemented by detailed guidance and provide a sound basis for the department’s appointee system.
Asked by: Lord Young of Cookham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any evidence of (1) fraud, or (2) abuse, connected with the benefits appointee system.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
No assessment has been made. Benefit fraud committed by an appointee is considered in the same way as benefit fraud committed by any claimant. Allegations of financial abuse against an appointee are investigated and will result in the appointeeship being revoked if proven.
Asked by: Lord Young of Cookham (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask Her Majesty's Government how much money in benefits was disbursed by the Department for Work and Pensions through the appointee system in the last year for which figures are available.
Answered by Baroness Stedman-Scott
Information about the amount of benefit paid to appointees is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.