Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the 2018 reforms to the Social Fund’s funeral expenses payments scheme, whether the changes to enable claimants to submit evidence electronically have been implemented in full.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Regulation 2 of The Social Fund Funeral Expenses Amendment Regulations 2018 allows for the electronic submission of evidence in connection with claims for social fund funeral payments. As a result, Funeral Directors are able to submit evidence electronically to support a claim for Funeral Expense Payments, and we continue to work on identifying a secure digital solution to extend this option to applicants.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason a Social Fund Annual Report has not been published since November 2018.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The publication of the Social Fund Annual Report 2018/19 includes data that was initially published in the Social Fund Account 2018/19. Publication of the Social Fund Account 2018/19 on GOV.UK was delayed by queries from the National Audit Office and by last minute changes to Parliamentary recess dates. It was finally published on 11 February 2020.
The publication of the Social Fund Annual Report 2018/19 was subsequently delayed by urgent COVID-19 work, including the increase to the Funeral Expenses Payments additional costs limit from £700 to £1000, further changes to regulations as well as work with operations to improve the speed of processing.
We aim to publish the Social Fund Annual Report 2018/19 by October. We aim to publish the Social Fund Annual Report 2019/20 by the end of November.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to publish the next Social Fund Annual Report.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The publication of the Social Fund Annual Report 2018/19 includes data that was initially published in the Social Fund Account 2018/19. Publication of the Social Fund Account 2018/19 on GOV.UK was delayed by queries from the National Audit Office and by last minute changes to Parliamentary recess dates. It was finally published on 11 February 2020.
The publication of the Social Fund Annual Report 2018/19 was subsequently delayed by urgent COVID-19 work, including the increase to the Funeral Expenses Payments additional costs limit from £700 to £1000, further changes to regulations as well as work with operations to improve the speed of processing.
We aim to publish the Social Fund Annual Report 2018/19 by October. We aim to publish the Social Fund Annual Report 2019/20 by the end of November.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
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 ensure that prison leavers (a) with and (b) without internet access are aware of the (i) alternative payment arrangements and (ii) other easements for payment of universal credit that can be granted for claimants undertaking employability programmes.
Answered by Will Quince
On making a new claim to Universal Credit (UC) all claimants, including prison leavers and those undertaking employment programmes, receive a follow up call to verify details of identity and discuss their individual circumstances, including financial circumstances and money management. As part of this discussion, alternative payment arrangements will be considered where appropriate, including benefit payments paid more frequently than monthly, and housing costs paid direct to the landlord.
Those with an online claim also have access to a UC guide on their UC account. In addition, we have specific prison leaver UC guides - one for prison leavers and one for people supporting prison leavers:
UC prison leaver guide for those supporting prison leavers
All DWP work coaches, including Prison Work Coaches, receive training to provide support and employment advice to claimants who have complex needs, including female and male prison leavers.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether Jobcentre Plus work coaches receive specific training to support and provide employment advice to women prison leavers.
Answered by Will Quince
On making a new claim to Universal Credit (UC) all claimants, including prison leavers and those undertaking employment programmes, receive a follow up call to verify details of identity and discuss their individual circumstances, including financial circumstances and money management. As part of this discussion, alternative payment arrangements will be considered where appropriate, including benefit payments paid more frequently than monthly, and housing costs paid direct to the landlord.
Those with an online claim also have access to a UC guide on their UC account. In addition, we have specific prison leaver UC guides - one for prison leavers and one for people supporting prison leavers:
UC prison leaver guide for those supporting prison leavers
All DWP work coaches, including Prison Work Coaches, receive training to provide support and employment advice to claimants who have complex needs, including female and male prison leavers.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will take steps with representatives of local authorities to ensure that universal credit is able to cover the costs of women in supported or temporary housing so that those women can progress into employment while remaining in their accommodation.
Answered by Will Quince
Housing Benefit provides housing support for people in temporary accommodation, or in supported housing where the local authority deems that the accommodation meets the specified accommodation criteria, subject to the usual entitlement conditions. If the local authority decides that the specified accommodation criteria has not been met, the claimant can claim for their housing support through Universal Credit.
Where Housing Benefit claimants progress into employment, if they remain entitled to Universal Credit, their income is not taken into account for Housing Benefit purposes and there is no change to the amount they receive. If their Universal Credit claim ends, then their Housing Benefit claim is reassessed. Some of their earnings will be disregarded based on their personal circumstances. Where a claimant’s income, after the disregards, have been applied is higher than their applicable amount, Housing Benefit is reduced by a fixed taper of 65p for every £1 of additional income, meaning that they will always be better off in work. If a claimant continues to struggle to pay their rent, they can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment from their local authority.
Asked by: Carolyn Harris (Labour - Swansea East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether training on domestic abuse will be provided for people working on the application and administration of universal credit.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
In supporting victims of domestic violence, DWP offers a range of support open to survivors and those still experiencing domestic abuse.
Jobcentre staff delivering Universal Credit undergo a comprehensive learning journey designed to equip them with the tools, skills and behaviours required to provide a high quality service to all claimants. Specific training and guidance is provided for working with different vulnerable groups, including people who have been the victims of domestic violence.
This can include signposting claimants to national and local organisations that provide specialist support. Work coaches can also apply a domestic violence easement, switching off a claimant’s all work-related requirements for a period of time.