Asked by: Gillian Keegan (Conservative - Chichester)
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 review universal credit assessment periods when claimants receive two paychecks within the same assessment period due to a change of employer.
Answered by Will Quince
Universal Credit seeks to take earnings into account in a way that is fair and transparent. The amount of Universal Credit paid reflects, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances of a household during each monthly assessment period, including any earnings reported by their employer or employers during the assessment period, regardless of when they were paid, or which month they relate to.
Assessment periods allow for Universal Credit awards to be adjusted on a monthly basis, ensuring that if a claimant’s income changes, they do not have to wait several months for a corresponding change in their Universal Credit award. Claimants can always discuss the implications of any changes in earnings with their case managers and work coach and can be referred to personal budgeting support to help them manage their budgeting.
Asked by: Gillian Keegan (Conservative - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the merits of not requiring people with degenerative conditions who were in receipt of employment and support allowance before September 2017 to attend a further face-to-face work capability assessment.
Answered by Sarah Newton
From the 29 September 2017 those placed in Employment and Support Allowance’s (ESA) Support Group and the Universal Credit (UC) equivalent who have the most severe and lifelong health conditions or disabilities will no longer be routinely reassessed.
For those claiming ESA prior to 29 September 2017, the Severe Conditions criteria will be taken into consideration at their next Work Capability Assessment. People will be asked to complete a health questionnaire, and where appropriate we will ask their General Practitioner or Specialist healthcare professional for further supporting evidence. In the vast majority of cases where the Severe Conditions criteria would apply, we would expect to be able to make a decision without the need for a face-to-face assessment.
Asked by: Gillian Keegan (Conservative - Chichester)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the merits of not requiring people with degenerative conditions who were in receipt of employment and support allowance before September 2017 to attend a further face-to-face work capability assessment.
Answered by Sarah Newton
From the 29 September 2017 those placed in Employment and Support Allowance’s (ESA) Support Group and the Universal Credit (UC) equivalent who have the most severe and lifelong health conditions or disabilities will no longer be routinely reassessed.
For those claiming ESA prior to 29 September 2017, the Severe Conditions criteria will be taken into consideration at their next Work Capability Assessment. People will be asked to complete a health questionnaire, and where appropriate we will ask their General Practitioner or Specialist healthcare professional for further supporting evidence. In the vast majority of cases where the Severe Conditions criteria would apply, we would expect to be able to make a decision without the need for a face-to-face assessment.