Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much a universal credit payment to a single mother is reduced by when two maternity payments are received within the universal credit calculation period due to a bank holiday.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid by an employer through their payroll system and is therefore a form of earnings subject to the work allowance (where a claimant is eligible) and tapering, in the same way as other earned income. As a consequence, information surrounding the volumes of SMP payments received by Universal Credit claimants in the Highland Council area is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
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 discuss the implications of any changes in earnings with their Case Manager or Work Coach and can be referred to personal budgeting support to help them manage their budgeting.
The Department has been working closely with HMRC since Universal Credit went live in 2013 to support and inform employers who report earnings to emphasise the importance of timely reporting via the Real Time Information system.
HMRC have updated their guidance to reiterate to employers the importance of reporting accurate dates and the impact on payment cycles; the Financial Secretary to the Treasury is also working closely with HMRC and employers to do this.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people in the Highland Council area received two statutory maternity payments within the universal credit calculation period due to a bank holiday in 2019.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid by an employer through their payroll system and is therefore a form of earnings subject to the work allowance (where a claimant is eligible) and tapering, in the same way as other earned income. As a consequence, information surrounding the volumes of SMP payments received by Universal Credit claimants in the Highland Council area is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
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 discuss the implications of any changes in earnings with their Case Manager or Work Coach and can be referred to personal budgeting support to help them manage their budgeting.
The Department has been working closely with HMRC since Universal Credit went live in 2013 to support and inform employers who report earnings to emphasise the importance of timely reporting via the Real Time Information system.
HMRC have updated their guidance to reiterate to employers the importance of reporting accurate dates and the impact on payment cycles; the Financial Secretary to the Treasury is also working closely with HMRC and employers to do this.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
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 payments of statutory maternity pay that are delayed due to bank holidays do not affect universal credit payments.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid by an employer through their payroll system and is therefore a form of earnings subject to the work allowance (where a claimant is eligible) and tapering, in the same way as other earned income. As a consequence, information surrounding the volumes of SMP payments received by Universal Credit claimants in the Highland Council area is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
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 discuss the implications of any changes in earnings with their Case Manager or Work Coach and can be referred to personal budgeting support to help them manage their budgeting.
The Department has been working closely with HMRC since Universal Credit went live in 2013 to support and inform employers who report earnings to emphasise the importance of timely reporting via the Real Time Information system.
HMRC have updated their guidance to reiterate to employers the importance of reporting accurate dates and the impact on payment cycles; the Financial Secretary to the Treasury is also working closely with HMRC and employers to do this.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if her Department will introduce a bus voucher system for universal credit claimants who may not be able to afford public transport costs to attend job centres.
Answered by Will Quince
Since the introduction of Universal Credit, claimants have been supported by Jobcentre Work Coaches applying a more flexible approach to contact, with much greater use of digital and telephone channels. This enables claimants to continue to engage with the Department, receive appropriate support and satisfy the conditions of their personalised Claimant Commitment without having to always attend an appointment in person.
To assist with the affordability of public transport, and where an appointment at a Jobcentre has been agreed as necessary, Work Coaches are able to consider the reimbursement of a claimant’s travel costs. The Department publishes clear guidance to its staff of when mandatory awards for travel must be made from the Flexible Support Fund – a copy of this is available in the House of Commons’ Library. In exceptional situations, where a claimant’s requirements cannot be met in any other way, an advance payment can be made.
The Department works closely with partner organisations in Northern Scotland to deliver services in locations convenient for the local population it serves. Local Jobcentres have the flexibility to work alongside organisations to support the needs of their communities, providing our most vulnerable claimants with help tailored to their circumstances. For those who find it the most challenging to attend in person, we operate a 'Remote Customer Service Delivery' service, within the Wick area, which maximises the use of telephone and postal services to reduce the frequency of face-to-face appointments to make and maintain a claim to Universal Credit.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
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 affordability of public transport costs for those attending (a) Wick Job Centre and (b) job centres; and whether her Department is taking steps to provide advance funding to universal credit claimants for those costs.
Answered by Will Quince
Since the introduction of Universal Credit, claimants have been supported by Jobcentre Work Coaches applying a more flexible approach to contact, with much greater use of digital and telephone channels. This enables claimants to continue to engage with the Department, receive appropriate support and satisfy the conditions of their personalised Claimant Commitment without having to always attend an appointment in person.
To assist with the affordability of public transport, and where an appointment at a Jobcentre has been agreed as necessary, Work Coaches are able to consider the reimbursement of a claimant’s travel costs. The Department publishes clear guidance to its staff of when mandatory awards for travel must be made from the Flexible Support Fund – a copy of this is available in the House of Commons’ Library. In exceptional situations, where a claimant’s requirements cannot be met in any other way, an advance payment can be made.
The Department works closely with partner organisations in Northern Scotland to deliver services in locations convenient for the local population it serves. Local Jobcentres have the flexibility to work alongside organisations to support the needs of their communities, providing our most vulnerable claimants with help tailored to their circumstances. For those who find it the most challenging to attend in person, we operate a 'Remote Customer Service Delivery' service, within the Wick area, which maximises the use of telephone and postal services to reduce the frequency of face-to-face appointments to make and maintain a claim to Universal Credit.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of claimants have had their mobility payments (a) reduced and (b) stopped when transferring from disability living allowance to personal independence payment.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The table below shows the number and proportion of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claimants who were in receipt of the DLA mobility component and whom on reassessment to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) received (a) a reduced mobility element or (b) a zero mobility element at the first DWP decision. Figures are prior to any mandatory reconsideration, appeal or award review.
Mobility award under PIP compared to mobility award under DLA for those who were in receipt of the mobility component on DLA | GB | Highland Local Authority | Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross |
(a) Reduced Mobility | 144,350 (13%) | 680 (14%) | 180 (14%) |
(b) Mobility stopped | 430,730 (39%) | 1,690 (34%) | 420 (31%) |
(c) Mobility the same | 407,290 (37%) | 1,980 (40%) | 560 (42%) |
(d) Increased mobility | 128,410 (12%) | 630 (13%) | 180 (14%) |
Total number who were in receipt of DLA mobility | 1,110,770 | 4,970 | 1,340 |
Notes:
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many former disability living allowance claimants living in the Highland local authority area receive (a) a reduced or (b) no mobility element under personal independence payment.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The table below shows the number and proportion of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claimants who were in receipt of the DLA mobility component and whom on reassessment to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) received (a) a reduced mobility element or (b) a zero mobility element at the first DWP decision. Figures are prior to any mandatory reconsideration, appeal or award review.
Mobility award under PIP compared to mobility award under DLA for those who were in receipt of the mobility component on DLA | GB | Highland Local Authority | Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross |
(a) Reduced Mobility | 144,350 (13%) | 680 (14%) | 180 (14%) |
(b) Mobility stopped | 430,730 (39%) | 1,690 (34%) | 420 (31%) |
(c) Mobility the same | 407,290 (37%) | 1,980 (40%) | 560 (42%) |
(d) Increased mobility | 128,410 (12%) | 630 (13%) | 180 (14%) |
Total number who were in receipt of DLA mobility | 1,110,770 | 4,970 | 1,340 |
Notes:
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many former disability living allowance claimants living in Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross receive (a) a reduced mobility element or (b) a zero mobility element as a result of moving to personal independence payment.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The table below shows the number and proportion of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claimants who were in receipt of the DLA mobility component and whom on reassessment to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) received (a) a reduced mobility element or (b) a zero mobility element at the first DWP decision. Figures are prior to any mandatory reconsideration, appeal or award review.
Mobility award under PIP compared to mobility award under DLA for those who were in receipt of the mobility component on DLA | GB | Highland Local Authority | Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross |
(a) Reduced Mobility | 144,350 (13%) | 680 (14%) | 180 (14%) |
(b) Mobility stopped | 430,730 (39%) | 1,690 (34%) | 420 (31%) |
(c) Mobility the same | 407,290 (37%) | 1,980 (40%) | 560 (42%) |
(d) Increased mobility | 128,410 (12%) | 630 (13%) | 180 (14%) |
Total number who were in receipt of DLA mobility | 1,110,770 | 4,970 | 1,340 |
Notes:
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2018 to Question 169417 on State Retirement Pensions: Females, for what reason she has not met with representatives of the WASPI campaign to discuss the time taken for complaints raised by women affected by measures taken to equalise the state pension age to be dealt with by her Department.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Independent Case Examiner is independent, and disusses complaints. The ICE is appointed under contract to adjudicate on escalated complaints about the DWP, and its contracted service providers, in cases where the complainant has exhausted the relevant internal complaints process and remains dissatisfied. If a complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome of an Independent Case Examiner investigation (or the service provided by the Independent Case Examiner) they can ask their Member of Parliament to escalate their complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.
The Independent Case Examiner aims to complete any investigation within 20 weeks of starting work on a case. The Independent Case Examiner reports related to legislative changes to State Pension age for women that have been concluded to date have been completed within an average of 9.75 weeks. To date, the Independent Case Examiner had not upheld any case specific complaints that the DWP failed to provide adequate and timely information relating to the increase in State Pension age. All final Independent Case Examiner reports explain how the complainant can escalate their complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman’s Office. The Parliamentary Health and Service Ombudsman make final decisions on complaints that have not been resolved by UK Government Departments. This was set up in 1967.
Asked by: Jamie Stone (Liberal Democrat - Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria her Department uses for appealing decisions by the first-tier tribunal to award personal independence payments.
Answered by Sarah Newton
The Department will only seek to refer decisions of the First-tier Tribunal to the Upper Tribunal, in Personal Independence Payment cases as well as those of other benefits, where we contend that the First-tier Tribunal has made an error in law. Each case is considered on its merits.