Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to make the application process for Universal Credit more accessible for people (a) who are not able to go online and (b) with learning difficulties.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP provides alternative channels to make a claim to UC for those who are unable to use the digital channel, this includes telephone or Jobcentre attendance. A home visit may also be considered if additional support is required.
A range of support is available to support customers asked to move to UC. This includes information on gov.uk and support from the Help to Claim service provided by Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland. Help to Claim offers independent support to customers making a claim to UC, right up until their first full correct payment. Those individuals who are unable to access support via these channels, can go to their local jobcentre where staff will identify the right support to meet their needs to make and/or manage their Universal Credit claim.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 people who emigrate to (a) Canada and (b) Australia are aware that their state pensions will be frozen.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
For a number of years, advice has been provided to the public that the UK State Pension is not uprated overseas except where there is a legal requirement to do so - for example where there is a reciprocal agreement that allows for uprating.
Information on moving or retiring abroad is available on GOV.UK and this includes advice on how State pension is affected.
Advice can also be obtained by calling the International Pension Centre on 0191 218 777 or from the Pension Service on 0800 731 7898
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when the most recent review of the frozen pensions policy was.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
There has been no recent review of the policy.
The policy on the uprating of UK State Pensions paid overseas is a longstanding one of successive Governments, which has been in place for over 70 years.
UK State Pensions are payable worldwide, without regard to nationality, and are only uprated abroad where there is a legal requirement to do so, for example in countries with which we have a reciprocal agreement that provides for up-rating.
Up-rating is based on levels of earnings growth and price inflation in the UK which has no direct relevance where the pensioner is resident overseas.
Over many years, priority is given to those living in the United Kingdom when drawing up expenditure plans for additional pensioner benefits.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
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 (a) identify and (b) address barriers to separated families setting up maintenance arrangements through the Child Maintenance Service.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) supports separated parents to work together in the interests of their children and to set up a child maintenance arrangement that is right for them.
Get Help Arranging Child Maintenance is an online service that provides free information and support to help parents make decisions about CM and make a CMS application if they choose to.
Applications to the CMS have been increasing. In the 12 months to September 2024, there has been a 13% increase in applications compared to the previous 12 months.
Legislation to remove the £20 application fee was introduced in February 2024, removing a financial barrier to parents wishing to access the CMS.
A consultation on proposed reforms to the CMS was published by the previous Government on 8 May 2024. This included removing Direct Pay and managing all CMS cases in one service to allow the CMS to tackle non-compliance faster and explore how victims and survivors of domestic abuse can be better supported.
The consultation also sought views on how we can ensure parents can access resources and support to help separated families agree on child support arrangements.
The consultation was extended by the Government at the end of July and ran until 30th September 2024.
We are analysing the responses we have received, and the Government will publish a response in due course.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Gingerbread report entitled Fix the Child Maintenance Service, published on 25 November 2024, what assessment she has made of the impact of non-receipt of child maintenance on child poverty levels.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Child Maintenance Service (CMS) is committed to encouraging parents to meet their responsibilities to provide their children with the financial support they need to get a good start in life. Child Maintenance payments from both CMS and family-based arrangements keep 160,000 children out of poverty each year. The CMS has a low percentage of unpaid maintenance. 8% of the total maintenance due to be paid since the CMS began remains to be collected.
The CMS has recently consulted on significant reforms and responses are being analysed. Proposals included removing the Direct Pay service and managing all CMS cases in one service to allow the CMS to tackle non-compliance faster. The Government will publish a response in due course.
The CMS continues to engage regularly with stakeholders, including Gingerbread, as we consider reform.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many women are on long term sick leave due to menopausal symptoms.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Although the government does not collect this data, we have proposed a wide-ranging set of generational reforms to boost protections for workers, including women experiencing menopause symptoms at work. The Government has also committed to publishing guidance, including for small employers, on measures to consider relating to uniform and temperature, flexible working and recording menopause-related leave and absence. Alongside this the Government has appointed a Menopause Employment Ambassador who will work with employers to improve the support for women experiencing menopause symptoms at work.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking with the devolved Administrations to help increase awareness among pensioners of benefits they may be entitled to.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
This Government remains completely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement.
DWP uses a wide range of channels including information on Gov.uk, in letters, leaflets and via telephone to communicate information to older people about pensioner benefits, including how to claim, and signposts to devolved provision where appropriate. Where there is devolved provision for pensioner support, the Devolved Governments provide their own information and communications.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure the accessibility of PIP assessment centres for people with disabilities.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) takes its responsibility to ensure all individuals have access to our services without disadvantage very seriously. We have a range of provisions in place to ensure assessments are accessible to all individuals, in line with the standards under the Equality Act 2010.
At all stages of the claim, individuals are asked to advise of any individual restrictions which could prevent / limit their ability to attend an assessment centre. Assessment suppliers will accommodate these or, if more suitable, make alternative arrangements for the individual to visit a different assessment centre or be assessed via a different assessment channel.
Our agreement with the suppliers regarding accessibility of the assessment centres is detailed in Annex 2 - Design Standards of part 3 of the Functional Assessment Service contracts. This is available on GOV.UK contracts finder - Functional Assessment Service (FAS) 2024 - Contracts Finder.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of pension credit claims received between January and November (a) 2024 and (b) 2023.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
In 2024 we have received approx. 206,000 claims up to and including week commencing 16 Sept 2024, this figure includes data published by the Department on the 27 of Sept 2024. The Department has announced it will publish updated Pension Credit application and award statistics on 28 November 2024. Releases will be quarterly, including Pension Credit application, clearance, and award/non-award volumes data from 1 April 2024, up to the most recent data available before each publication. The previous publication can be found here: Weekly Pension Credit claims received from 1 April 2024 to 22 September 2024 - GOV.UK
In 2023 for the same period, we received 201,000 claims, with an additional 22,000 claims made after this period and up to the end of October 2023.
Please Note:
• The figures presented have been collected for internal departmental use only and have not been quality assured to the same extent as Official Statistics
• Intakes have been rounded to the nearest 1000
• Data for 2023 is from two different sources, data from Jan 23 to end of March 23 and data from Apr 23 onwards
• Methodology changes for intakes from 03.04.2023, impacting quality of data for 2023
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of raising the Carer Addition in Pension Credit on low-income pensioner carers.
Answered by Emma Reynolds - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government appreciates how much society relies on unpaid carers and the vital contribution made by carers every day in providing significant care and continuity of support to family and friends.
We recognise the challenges they are facing, and we are determined to provide unpaid carers with the help and support they need and deserve.
The rates of Pension Credit are reviewed annually as part of the Secretary of State’s statutory review of State pension and benefit rates. The review for 2025/26 has been completed and its conclusions announced to Parliament: Writtenstatements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament.