Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
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 improve employment support for disabled Universal Credit claimants.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
As part of the get Britain working plan, more disabled people and those with health conditions will be supported to enter and stay in work, by devolving more power to local areas so they can shape a joined-up work, health, and skills offer that suits the needs of the people they serve.
Good quality work is generally good for health and wellbeing, so we want everyone to get work and get on in work, whoever they are and wherever they live. We want people to avoid poverty, and for this to happen we must ensure that disabled people and people with health conditions have the opportunity to work and save for as long as they wish and are able to.
Disabled people and people with health conditions are a diverse group who need access to the right work and health support, in the right place, at the right time. We have a range of specialist initiatives to support individuals to stay in work and get back into work, including disabled Universal Credit claimants. Measures include support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres, Access to Work grants and the Work and Health Programme, as well as joining up health and employment support around the individual through Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies and Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care.
Employers play a key role in increasing employment opportunities and supporting disabled people and people with health conditions, to thrive as part of the workforce. Our support to employers includes increasing access to Occupational Health, a digital information service for employers and the Disability Confident scheme.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman entitled Women’s State Pension age: our findings on injustice and associated issues, published on 21 March 2024, HC 638, if she will establish a compensation scheme for affected women by 5 February 2025.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
We are reviewing the Ombudsman’s report along with the evidence provided during the investigation.
We need to consider the views that have been expressed on all sides including the points raised by representatives from the WASPI Campaign who I met recently, the first Government Minister to do so for 8 years.
Once this work has been undertaken, the Government will be in a position to outline its approach.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of annually increasing Local Housing Allowance at a rate greater than or equal to the rate of inflation.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
Local Housing Allowance policy is reviewed annually by the Secretary of State, and its impact is monitored regularly. It would not be appropriate to pre-empt the outcome of this review.
In 2021/22 the Government spent almost £30 billion to support renters in both the private and social rented sector. This is forecast to rise to £31 billion in 2023/24.
LHA rates were boosted by almost £1 billion in 2020, this significant investment has been kept annually to maintain rates.
For those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and need further support. Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities. Since 2011 the Government has provided nearly £1.7 billion in DHP funding to local authorities.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2023 to Question 154038, whether the impact assessment included an assessment of the potential impact on universal credit claimants of travelling to up to 10 one-to-one jobcentre appointments within a two-week period; and if he will publish the impact assessment.
Answered by Guy Opperman
Claimants can request to be reimbursed for additional travel costs to Jobcentre appointments, over and above their weekly/fortnightly attendance, during the two-week period of intensive support. This follows our usual process.
Work Coaches will continue to tailor support based on the claimant’s needs and the eligibility criteria set for the pilot. The eligibility criteria are designed to focus this support on claimants who are able to start work but struggling to find work or increase their earnings. Vulnerable claimants and those whose circumstances prevent them from being available for work are not required to participate.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2023 to Question 154037, what the average processing time was for claims by participants in the additional jobcentre support pilot for travel costs during the pilot.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The flexible support fund is there to assist claimants. The pilot is in its early stages, as such this requested information is not presently available.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 2 March 2023 to Question 154037, how many and what proportion of participants in the additional jobcentre support pilot (a) made applications to be reimbursed for and (b) were reimbursed for the cost of travel above their weekly or fortnightly attendance.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The flexible support fund is there to assist claimants. The pilot is in its early stages, as such this requested information is not presently available.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Written Statement of 27 February 2023 on Additional Jobcentre Support – Pilot rollout, HCWS582, whether he has made an assessment of the ability of claimants to travel to 10 one to one job centre appointments within in a two week period.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The criteria for participation in Additional Jobcentre Support was developed following an Impact Assessment, to ensure that claimants can attend these appointments. Our Work Coaches will continue to tailor support based on the claimant’s needs and the eligibility criteria set for the pilot.
The Flexible Support Fund can assist with travel costs.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to his Written Statement of 27 February 2023 on Additional Jobcentre Support – Pilot rollout, HCWS582, whether claimants will be reimbursed travel costs for the one to one job centre appointments they are asked to attend in a two week period.
Answered by Guy Opperman
Claimants can request to be reimbursed for additional travel costs to Jobcentre appointments, over and above their weekly/fortnightly attendance, during the two-week period of intensive support. This follows usual processes.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of Universal Credit claimants who have been made homeless due to the increase in rates of mortgage interest.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
The primary purpose of SMI is to provide owner-occupiers receiving an income-related benefit with a level of support that is sufficient to protect them from the threat of repossession. Lenders recognise that the payments we make will not always mirror the mortgage-holders liability, but we expect that they will, nonetheless, exercise forbearance.
The rate at which SMI is paid changes only when the Bank of England’s average mortgage rate varies from the rate in payment by 0.5 percentage points or more. Through guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority, lenders are aware that a change to the rate of SMI payments is triggered only in these circumstances and so should continue to offer tailored forbearance to their customers.
While SMI is kept under review, there are currently no plans to amend this policy. There has been no assessment on the impact of rising mortgage repayments for those claimants who are in receipt of SMI. Therefore, there has been no estimate made on the number of Universal Credit claimants who have been made homeless due to increases in mortgage interest rates.
Asked by: Ian Byrne (Independent - Liverpool West Derby)
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 impact of rising mortgage repayment rates on claimants for (a) Universal Credit and (b) other state benefits.
Answered by Mims Davies - Shadow Minister for Women and Equalities
The primary purpose of SMI is to provide owner-occupiers receiving an income-related benefit with a level of support that is sufficient to protect them from the threat of repossession. Lenders recognise that the payments we make will not always mirror the mortgage-holders liability, but we expect that they will, nonetheless, exercise forbearance.
The rate at which SMI is paid changes only when the Bank of England’s average mortgage rate varies from the rate in payment by 0.5 percentage points or more. Through guidance from the Financial Conduct Authority, lenders are aware that a change to the rate of SMI payments is triggered only in these circumstances and so should continue to offer tailored forbearance to their customers.
While SMI is kept under review, there are currently no plans to amend this policy. There has been no assessment on the impact of rising mortgage repayments for those claimants who are in receipt of SMI. Therefore, there has been no estimate made on the number of Universal Credit claimants who have been made homeless due to increases in mortgage interest rates.