Asked by: Julian Huppert (Liberal Democrat - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy that trustees of defined benefit pension schemes are required to have a policy on stewardship.
Answered by Steve Webb
We are currently consulting on potential changes to the Occupational Pension Schemes (Investment) Regulations 2005 which will support and encourage trustees of both defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes to consider their approach to stewardship. This forms part of our consultation, entitled “Consultation on changes to the Investment Regulations following the Law Commission’s report ‘Fiduciary Duties of Investment Intermediaries’” which was published on 26th February 2015. The consultation period ends on 20th April 2015 and it is the intention that a Government response will be published later this year.
Asked by: Julian Huppert (Liberal Democrat - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review the procedures for notifying his Department of a change of circumstances in the event of hospitalisation when the claimant is incapacitated and unable to contact the Disability Benefits helpline.
Answered by Mark Harper
The Department has reviewed its procedures for notifying hospital admissions when the customer is incapacitated and unable to contact us themselves.
We have taken account of the fact that there is no reduction in the Benefit paid for the first twenty eight days following admission, where there has been no previous hospitalisation within the preceding twenty eight days. Also, measures are in place so that the report of the hospital admission may be taken from another person, on the customer’s behalf. We have concluded that the procedures already in place are satisfactory.
Asked by: Julian Huppert (Liberal Democrat - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many recipients of disability living allowance have been required to make repayments to his Department after continuing to claim the benefit whilst hospitalised for medical treatment in 2014-15 to date.
Answered by Mark Harper
We do not hold the information requested verified to the standards set by the UK Statistics Authority.
Asked by: Julian Huppert (Liberal Democrat - Cambridge)
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 ensure that people who qualify for attendance allowance are made aware of the scheme and of their eligibility for it.
Answered by Mark Harper
The department is committed to encouraging older people to take up the benefits they are entitled to and goes to considerable lengths to publicise benefits. Information is available from the department's offices; advice agencies, including local authorities; and leaflets are available from various locations, including post offices and doctors' surgeries. Information about all benefits and how these may be claimed is readily available on the GOV.UK website, or through the DWP Information Line.
Additionally, the department’s National Partnerships Team works with customer representative organisations, both nationally and locally, to provide a wide range of advice and support for older people. Over 300 of these partner organisations operate as an Alternative Office, taking and verifying Attendance Allowance claims on behalf of the Secretary of State. And for those unable to access services through other channels, a visiting service is available to help with information and claims.
Asked by: Julian Huppert (Liberal Democrat - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to ensure that the shared accommodation rate is representative of the real cost of renting shared accommodation.
Answered by Steve Webb
On behalf of DWP, the Rent Officer Services, collect evidence of a wide range of achieved rents for each area and use these to set Local Housing Allowance rates, in line with the current policy for Local Housing Allowance uprating.
Currently, increases to Local Housing Allowance rates are limited to one per cent. However, in areas where there have been the greatest divergences between rates and rents, we are increasing rates by up to 4 per cent through Targeted Affordability Funding.
In 2014/15, this meant that 56 out of the 192 Shared Accommodation Rates were increased by 4 per cent. In 2015/16, there will be £95 million available for the Targeted Affordability funding and we will be increasing 63 out of the 192 Shared Accommodation Rates by 4 per cent.
Asked by: Julian Huppert (Liberal Democrat - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department has taken to ensure that the shared accommodation rate reflects the real cost of renting shared accommodation.
Answered by Steve Webb
Currently, increases to Local Housing Allowance rates are limited to one per cent. However, in areas where there have been the greatest divergences, we are increasing rates by up to 4 per cent subject to the funding available. In 2014/15, this meant that 56 out of the 192 Shared Accommodation Rates were increased by 4 per cent. In 2015/16, we will be increasing 63 out of the 192 Shared Accommodation Rates by 4 per cent.
Asked by: Julian Huppert (Liberal Democrat - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what criteria are employed to assess applicants for personal independent payments (PIPs); and what steps are being taken to ensure that those in need do not lose access to the payment following the switchover from disability living allowance to PIPs.
Answered by Mark Harper
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is intended to focus support on those individuals who experience the greatest barriers to living an independent life. Entitlement to PIP is primarily assessed by reference to a claimant’s ability to carry out daily living activities or mobility activities. The PIP Handbook (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/348736/pip-handbook-aug-14.pdf) provides greater detail on the entitlement conditions and the assessment criteria.
Existing claimants of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) who were aged 16 to 64 on 8 April 2013, or who reach age 16 after that date, will be asked to claim PIP under programmes of natural and managed reassessment.
Such claimants will continue to receive DLA throughout the period their claim to PIP is being assessed so long as they comply with the claiming conditions. On determination of the PIP claim the claimant’s DLA will continue for a period of 4 weeks before the PIP decision takes effect.
Asked by: Julian Huppert (Liberal Democrat - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2014 to Question 213576, how many cases are still being dealt by Atos; and what assessment he has made of the effect this will have on waiting times.
Answered by Mark Harper
As at 30 September 2014 there were around 580,000 cases awaiting Work Capability Assessments at Atos Healthcare (down by 25% since February). These figures do not include cases where the claimant has yet to return the claimant questionnaire.
From 1 March, MAXIMUS Health and Human Services Ltd. will take over delivery, initially using elements of the Atos infrastructure in order to ensure a smooth and gradual transition between providers. The priority for MAXIMUS will be to deliver the best service possible for claimants, increase the volume of assessments carried out and reduce waiting times.
We are committed to reducing waiting times which is why this Government has awarded the new contract to Maximus.
Asked by: Julian Huppert (Liberal Democrat - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will take steps to ensure that Atos and its successor provide claimants with an immediate refund on the costs incurred when travelling to that assessment.
Answered by Mark Harper
Atos Healthcare will refund claimants’ travel expenses within 14 working days of the assessment taking place. There is no process in place to make an immediate refund.
MAXIMUS Health and Human Services Ltd have also committed to paying all travel expenses within the same time limits. This agreement will take effect from 1 March 2015.
Asked by: Julian Huppert (Liberal Democrat - Cambridge)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 3 November 2014, Official Report, column 526, whether he has considered making changes to the level of employment and support allowance; how many recipients of that allowance are disabled; and how many recipients of that allowance are doing permitted work.
Answered by Mark Harper
We are committed to ensuring that the support system offers those who want to work with the right opportunities to reach their potential, whilst continuing to provide appropriate financial support for those who are unable to work.
The information requested on the number of Employment and Support Allowance recipients, who are disabled or doing permitted work, is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.