Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department spent on staff training related to diversity and inclusion in 2022.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
DWP has not purchased any formal D&I learning that isn’t provided by CS learning. Internal products have been developed and are accessible via the departmental intranet but are not mandatory.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support disabled people to work.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
A range of Government initiatives support disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay, and succeed in work.
These include:
To tackle rising economic inactivity due to long-term sickness, we announced a wide-reaching package at the Spring Budget to support disabled people and people with health conditions to work. New investment focuses on providing faster access to joined-up work and health support, including for mental health and musculoskeletal conditions, the two leading causes of economic inactivity due to long term sickness.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training courses of what length his Department provides to Jobcentre staff on advising jobseekers with mental health conditions and mental health disabilities including (a) dementia, (b) depression, (c) bipolar disorder, (d) obsessive compulsive disorder and (e) Schizophrenia.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
We have taken steps to increase staff awareness of the mental health difficulties that may be experienced by our customers, so they can direct them to further support at any stage of the claimant journey. For example, we introduced mental health training for UC Work Coaches in late 2017. This learning was paused as a COVID easement and retrofit delivery is now being rolled out.
In 2021 we reviewed the learning alongside external experts and psychologists to enhance the offer. The learning is mandatory and aims to help our colleagues better support claimants who may present with mental health issues/unexpected behaviour by exploring their impact on customers, the steps needed to build relationships and learning how to respond appropriately to customers’ needs. This learning includes the opportunity for colleagues to practise the skills they have learned during the training, the length of which is over a two- and a half-day period.
Whilst our learning products do not go into specific mental health conditions, we do provide the tools to support staff to engage with claimants with underlying conditions and signpost to more specialist services.
The department is constantly learning, and work is ongoing to strengthen guidance and training as part of continuous improvement activities, ensuring colleagues have the necessary tools and confidence to support these customers.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
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 adequacy of Attendance Allowance for supporting people of state pension age or over who have (a) Parkinson's disease and (b) other long-term conditions.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Attendance Allowance is intended to help those with a severe disability who have long term care or supervision needs after they reach State Pension age. It provides a contribution towards the extra costs they face because of those care or supervision needs. It is also paid in addition to other support they may receive, whether that be through benefits, the NHS or Local Authorities.
Recipients will include people who have long-term health conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease. Entitlement to Attendance Allowance is based upon the care needs that the person may have as a result of their disability and is not specifically linked to the disability itself. Attendance Allowance is paid at different rates, with the higher rate paid to those who need help or supervision throughout both day and night. Most awards are made for an indefinite period, recognising it is a benefit intended to help those with long term care needs. Those getting the higher rate are receiving around £4800 a year, tax free, which can be paid in addition to other support a pensioner may receive such as the State Pension and Pension Credit.
And the Energy Price Guarantee is supporting millions of households with rising energy costs, and the Chancellor has made clear it will continue to do so from now until April next year. This is in addition to the over £37bn of cost of living support announced earlier this year which includes a one-off payment of £300 through, and as an addition to, the Winter Fuel Payment from November to pensioner households.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what mechanism her Department uses to determine Attendance Allowance rates for people of state pension age or over who have long-term conditions such as Parkinson’s.
Answered by Alex Burghart - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
Attendance Allowance is intended to help those with a severe disability who have long term care or supervision needs after they reach State Pension age. It provides a contribution towards the extra costs they face because of those care or supervision needs. It is also paid in addition to other support they may receive, whether that be through benefits, the NHS or Local Authorities.
Recipients will include people who have long-term health conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease. Entitlement to Attendance Allowance is based upon the care needs that the person may have as a result of their disability and is not specifically linked to the disability itself. Attendance Allowance is paid at different rates, with the higher rate paid to those who need help or supervision throughout both day and night. Most awards are made for an indefinite period, recognising it is a benefit intended to help those with long term care needs. Those getting the higher rate are receiving around £4800 a year, tax free, which can be paid in addition to other support a pensioner may receive such as the State Pension and Pension Credit.
And the Energy Price Guarantee is supporting millions of households with rising energy costs, and the Chancellor has made clear it will continue to do so from now until April next year. This is in addition to the over £37bn of cost of living support announced earlier this year which includes a one-off payment of £300 through, and as an addition to, the Winter Fuel Payment from November to pensioner households.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number pensioners in the UK who qualify for pension credit but do not claim their entitlement.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In November 2021, there were 2,436 Pension Credit claimants in South Holland and the Deepings. Quarterly statistics for the number of Pension Credit claimants by constituency can be found on Stat-Xplore. The latest figures are for November 2021.
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk
Guidance for users is available at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html
In Great Britain, there are an estimated 770,000 entitled non recipients of Pension Credit. This is available in the “Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up” publication which can be found on the statistics section of gov.uk. The latest publication relates to the financial year 2019 to 2020. Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year 2019 to 2020 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
We have already undertaken a range of actions to raise awareness of Pension Credit and increase take-up. Initial internal management information suggests that new claims for Pension Credit in the 12 months to December 2021 were around 30% higher compared to the 12 months to December 2019.
Earlier this year, we directly targeted over 11 million pensioners with information about Pension Credit and the additional support it can provide in the leaflet accompanying their annual up-rating notification.
However, it is more important now than ever before that we ensure all eligible pensioners claim the vital financial help which Pension Credit provides. That’s why on 3 April we launched a new Pension Credit awareness campaign. We are promoting Pension Credit in a variety of ways, including on social media – with advertising targeted both at potential recipients as well as their friends and family and also in key locations for the elderly, such as post offices and GP waiting rooms.
I have written to the editors of regional newspapers across England, Scotland and Wales calling on readers to check if they could be eligible and make a claim. This was done on repeat occasions in 2021. I have also written to all MPs, urging them to lend the campaign their support. MPs are well placed to promote Pension Credit to their older constituents and many already do so.
On 6 June there will be a further roundtable meeting with some stakeholders, who have reach and expertise, to identify other practical initiatives to encourage eligible pensioners to claim.
On 15 June, there will be another Pension Credit awareness media day of action with broadcasters, newspapers and other partners encouraged to reach out to pensioners to promote Pension Credit through their channels. We will also extend the campaign to include advertising in regional and national newspapers. This event was a success in 2021.
We know that one of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholders working in the community. We will be producing and distributing leaflets and posters which can be used across local communities, and we will also be updating our digital toolkit with information and resources that any stakeholder can use to help promote Pension Credit.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many pensioners in South Holland and The Deepings constituency are in receipt of pension credit.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In November 2021, there were 2,436 Pension Credit claimants in South Holland and the Deepings. Quarterly statistics for the number of Pension Credit claimants by constituency can be found on Stat-Xplore. The latest figures are for November 2021.
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk
Guidance for users is available at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html
In Great Britain, there are an estimated 770,000 entitled non recipients of Pension Credit. This is available in the “Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up” publication which can be found on the statistics section of gov.uk. The latest publication relates to the financial year 2019 to 2020. Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year 2019 to 2020 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
We have already undertaken a range of actions to raise awareness of Pension Credit and increase take-up. Initial internal management information suggests that new claims for Pension Credit in the 12 months to December 2021 were around 30% higher compared to the 12 months to December 2019.
Earlier this year, we directly targeted over 11 million pensioners with information about Pension Credit and the additional support it can provide in the leaflet accompanying their annual up-rating notification.
However, it is more important now than ever before that we ensure all eligible pensioners claim the vital financial help which Pension Credit provides. That’s why on 3 April we launched a new Pension Credit awareness campaign. We are promoting Pension Credit in a variety of ways, including on social media – with advertising targeted both at potential recipients as well as their friends and family and also in key locations for the elderly, such as post offices and GP waiting rooms.
I have written to the editors of regional newspapers across England, Scotland and Wales calling on readers to check if they could be eligible and make a claim. This was done on repeat occasions in 2021. I have also written to all MPs, urging them to lend the campaign their support. MPs are well placed to promote Pension Credit to their older constituents and many already do so.
On 6 June there will be a further roundtable meeting with some stakeholders, who have reach and expertise, to identify other practical initiatives to encourage eligible pensioners to claim.
On 15 June, there will be another Pension Credit awareness media day of action with broadcasters, newspapers and other partners encouraged to reach out to pensioners to promote Pension Credit through their channels. We will also extend the campaign to include advertising in regional and national newspapers. This event was a success in 2021.
We know that one of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholders working in the community. We will be producing and distributing leaflets and posters which can be used across local communities, and we will also be updating our digital toolkit with information and resources that any stakeholder can use to help promote Pension Credit.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what her Department is doing to increase the take-up of pension credit awards by those who qualify.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
In November 2021, there were 2,436 Pension Credit claimants in South Holland and the Deepings. Quarterly statistics for the number of Pension Credit claimants by constituency can be found on Stat-Xplore. The latest figures are for November 2021.
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk
Guidance for users is available at: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html
In Great Britain, there are an estimated 770,000 entitled non recipients of Pension Credit. This is available in the “Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up” publication which can be found on the statistics section of gov.uk. The latest publication relates to the financial year 2019 to 2020. Income-related benefits: estimates of take-up: financial year 2019 to 2020 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
We have already undertaken a range of actions to raise awareness of Pension Credit and increase take-up. Initial internal management information suggests that new claims for Pension Credit in the 12 months to December 2021 were around 30% higher compared to the 12 months to December 2019.
Earlier this year, we directly targeted over 11 million pensioners with information about Pension Credit and the additional support it can provide in the leaflet accompanying their annual up-rating notification.
However, it is more important now than ever before that we ensure all eligible pensioners claim the vital financial help which Pension Credit provides. That’s why on 3 April we launched a new Pension Credit awareness campaign. We are promoting Pension Credit in a variety of ways, including on social media – with advertising targeted both at potential recipients as well as their friends and family and also in key locations for the elderly, such as post offices and GP waiting rooms.
I have written to the editors of regional newspapers across England, Scotland and Wales calling on readers to check if they could be eligible and make a claim. This was done on repeat occasions in 2021. I have also written to all MPs, urging them to lend the campaign their support. MPs are well placed to promote Pension Credit to their older constituents and many already do so.
On 6 June there will be a further roundtable meeting with some stakeholders, who have reach and expertise, to identify other practical initiatives to encourage eligible pensioners to claim.
On 15 June, there will be another Pension Credit awareness media day of action with broadcasters, newspapers and other partners encouraged to reach out to pensioners to promote Pension Credit through their channels. We will also extend the campaign to include advertising in regional and national newspapers. This event was a success in 2021.
We know that one of the best ways to reach eligible customers is through trusted stakeholders working in the community. We will be producing and distributing leaflets and posters which can be used across local communities, and we will also be updating our digital toolkit with information and resources that any stakeholder can use to help promote Pension Credit.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent steps her Department has taken to ensure that new universal credit claimants are paid on time.
Answered by Will Quince
Processing Universal Credit claims and ensuring people are paid quickly is a key priority for the Department; our latest data shows over 90% of new claimants have received their payments on time and in full.
There have been over 3 million Universal Credit claims made since mid-March and there are currently 5.6 million people on Universal Credit. Universal Credit has clearly stood up to the challenges associated with the surge in claims following the outbreak of COVID-19, demonstrating scalability and resilience are part of its design. Millions more are able to access welfare which is fairer and more generous than the legacy benefit system.
The Department will continue to closely monitor its services across the country as we double the number of work coaches in Jobcentres before the end of the financial year, to strengthen our employment support offer through our ‘Plan for Jobs’.
Asked by: John Hayes (Conservative - South Holland and The Deepings)
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 encourage pension scheme investment in (a) infrastructure and (b) energy provision.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government is taking action to encourage pension scheme investment in infrastructure and energy provision and support this approach.
We are committed to enabling more diverse investments for pensions schemes that will improve returns to savers and support important sectors of the UK economy as such as infrastructure and energy, as we build back better.
On the 11th September we published a consultation Improving outcomes for members of defined contribution pension schemes which includes measures to enable defined contribution pension schemes to more easily invest in long-term assets like green technology, venture capital, and infrastructure by allowing longer-term calculation methods for performance fees.
We also want pension scheme members to benefit from well-run pension schemes that have sufficient scale to invest in assets such as energy and infrastructure, and that provide good value for money. Therefore, the consultation also includes proposals on a more comprehensive value for members’ assessment to encourage accelerated consolidation within the market, This will enable trustees to take a longer-term approach to delivering for savers by expanding the range of investments and strategies they can utilise to achieve this.