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Written Question
Universal Credit: Cost of Living
Monday 25th September 2023

Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made a recent assessment of the adequacy of Universal Credit for meeting average (a) food and (b) fuel costs.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

In April 2023, State pensions and benefits were up rated by 10.1%, in line with the increase in the Consumer Prices Index in the year to September 2022.

With regard to the adequacy of Universal Credit, the current rates of income-related benefits such as Universal Credit do not represent a minimum requirement, and are not described as such in legislation or Government literature. The Government specifies the rates which are applicable to different benefits, and these may vary according to claimants' circumstances.

The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and has announced support to households to help with higher bills worth £94 billion across 2022-23 and 2023-24, one of the largest household support packages in Europe.


Written Question
Universal Credit: Cost of Living
Monday 25th September 2023

Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure that Universal Credit is sufficient to cover average (a) food, (b) housing and (c) energy costs.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Benefit rates and the Local Housing Allowance are reviewed annually by the Secretary of State.

In April 2023, State pensions and benefits, including Universal Credit, were up rated by 10.1%, in line with the increase in the Consumer Prices Index in the year to September 2022.

Claimants in receipt of housing support living in the social rented sector have their eligible rent paid in full, unless the level of housing support is reduced because of their income or savings, contributions from non-dependants, or limited by the benefit cap or the removal of the spare room subsidy.

For private renters, the Local Housing Allowance determines the maximum housing support for tenants. Local Housing Allowance rates are not intended to cover all rents in all areas. However, in 2020 the Government spent almost £1 billion increasing Local Housing Allowance rates to the 30th percentile of market rents. This significant investment has been maintained, ensuring that everyone who benefited continues to do so.

The Government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and has announced support to households to help with higher bills worth £94 billion across 2022-23 and 2023-24, one of the largest household support packages in Europe.


Written Question
Cost of Living: Pensions
Wednesday 13th September 2023

Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of increases in the cost-of-living on private pension funds.

Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury

The latest data shows private pension opt out and stopping saving rates remain low.


Written Question
Universal Credit
Monday 11th September 2023

Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department made of the impact of the rise in the cost of living on working families who (a) qualify and (b) do not qualify for universal credit.

Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

No such assessments have been made.

The Government understands the pressures people, including parents, are facing with the cost of living and is taking action to help. Overall, we are providing total support of over £94bn over 2022-23 and 2023- 24 to help households and individuals with the rising cost of bills.

From April 2023, everyone who receives a state benefit or pension will have seen their benefit rates increase by 10.1%. In order to increase the number of households who can benefit from these uprating decisions, the benefit cap levels have also increased by the same amount.

To support parents who are in work, from 1 April, the National Living Wage (NLW) increased by 9.7% to £10.42 an hour for workers aged 23 and over - the largest ever cash increase for the NLW.

We recognise that high childcare costs can affect parents’ decisions to take up paid work or increase their working hours. That is why, as announced at the Spring Budget, we are investing billions in additional childcare support for parents of toddlers, investing in wraparound childcare in schools, and increasing financial support for, and expectations of, parents claiming Universal Credit.

Households on eligible means-tested benefits will get up to £900 in Cost of Living Payments. The first £301 payments have been issued to 8.3 million households, and two further payments will follow this autumn and in spring 2024. In addition, 6.4 million individuals on eligible ‘extra-costs’ disability benefits have also recently received a further £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment meaning households with more than one disabled person will receive multiple Disability Cost of Living Payments.

For people who require additional support, in England, the Household Support Fund will continue until March 2024. This year long extension allows Local Authorities in England to continue to provide discretionary support to those most in need with the significantly rising cost of living. The guidance for Local Authorities can be found here. Local Authorities have the discretion to design their own local schemes within the parameters of this guidance and grant determination that DWP have set out for the fund. Local Authorities are expected to support households in the most need, and in particular those who may not be eligible for the other support Government has recently made available, however, are nevertheless in need. The Devolved Administrations will receive consequential funding as usual to spend at their discretion.


Written Question
Cost of Living
Monday 11th September 2023

Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment his Department has made of the impact of the rise in the cost of living on working families with children.

Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

No such assessments have been made.

The Government understands the pressures people, including parents, are facing with the cost of living and is taking action to help. Overall, we are providing total support of over £94bn over 2022-23 and 2023- 24 to help households and individuals with the rising cost of bills.

From April 2023, everyone who receives a state benefit or pension will have seen their benefit rates increase by 10.1%. In order to increase the number of households who can benefit from these uprating decisions, the benefit cap levels have also increased by the same amount.

To support parents who are in work, from 1 April, the National Living Wage (NLW) increased by 9.7% to £10.42 an hour for workers aged 23 and over - the largest ever cash increase for the NLW.

We recognise that high childcare costs can affect parents’ decisions to take up paid work or increase their working hours. That is why, as announced at the Spring Budget, we are investing billions in additional childcare support for parents of toddlers, investing in wraparound childcare in schools, and increasing financial support for, and expectations of, parents claiming Universal Credit.

Households on eligible means-tested benefits will get up to £900 in Cost of Living Payments. The first £301 payments have been issued to 8.3 million households, and two further payments will follow this autumn and in spring 2024. In addition, 6.4 million individuals on eligible ‘extra-costs’ disability benefits have also recently received a further £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment meaning households with more than one disabled person will receive multiple Disability Cost of Living Payments.

For people who require additional support, in England, the Household Support Fund will continue until March 2024. This year long extension allows Local Authorities in England to continue to provide discretionary support to those most in need with the significantly rising cost of living. The guidance for Local Authorities can be found here. Local Authorities have the discretion to design their own local schemes within the parameters of this guidance and grant determination that DWP have set out for the fund. Local Authorities are expected to support households in the most need, and in particular those who may not be eligible for the other support Government has recently made available, however, are nevertheless in need. The Devolved Administrations will receive consequential funding as usual to spend at their discretion.


Written Question
Universal Credit
Monday 11th September 2023

Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment his Department has made of the efficacy of universal credit in supporting families with children during the school summer holidays.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

No such assessment has been made.


Written Question
Universal Credit
Wednesday 22nd March 2023

Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions he has had with relevant stakeholders on Universal Credit assessment periods.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

There are no plans to change the assessment period and payment structure of Universal Credit.


Written Question
Universal Credit: Children
Wednesday 22nd March 2023

Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of making both parents in a joint custody agreement eligible for the Universal Credit child element for that child.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

No such assessment has been made.

DWP does not hold information on custody arrangements between all parents claiming benefits.


Written Question
Universal Credit: Payments
Monday 20th March 2023

Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton East)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department are taking steps to ensure that Universal Credit claimants receive even weekly payments, including in five week months.

Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Department has no plans to change either Universal Credit assessment periods or payment structures. The approach reflects the world of work, where the majority of employees receive wages monthly.  Paying in this manner will encourage claimants to take personal responsibility for their finances and to budget on a monthly basis which could save households money.


Written Question
Universal Credit: Young People
Friday 3rd February 2023

Asked by: Angela Crawley (Scottish National Party - Lanark and Hamilton 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 effectiveness of Universal Credit provisions on supporting young people under 25 on low incomes or out of work.

Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

The DWP Youth Offer provides individually tailored work coach support to young people aged 16 to 24 who are in the Universal Credit Intensive Work Search group. This includes the Youth Employment Programme, Youth Employability Coaches for young people with additional barriers to finding work, and Youth Hubs across Great Britain.

The Youth Offer is subject to a Process Evaluation, with full findings expected to be shared internally by late 2023. This will inform any improvements or future changes to the Youth Offer policy. The evaluation plans which involve hearing from young people from a range of backgrounds and circumstances and those that work with them, on the services they receive to understand their effectiveness and enable us to make improvements as appropriate.

In addition, the Kickstart evaluation will continue to assess the longer-term outcomes for Kickstart participants after they have completed their six-month jobs. The commissioned process evaluation will conclude in Spring 2023.