Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
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 closing the Holyhead PIP Assessment Centre on sick and disabled people in Ynys Môn.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) closed the Holyhead Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Assessment Centre (AC) as part of the Functional Assessment Services (FAS) strategy to bring together all functional health assessment services in a geographical area under one supplier. Consolidating the Holyhead PIP AC into the Work Capability Assessment & Specialist Benefit site in Bangor ensures that all health benefits will be assessed in the same building; this contributes to an easier customer experience when applying for multiple health benefits.
DWP is committed to ensuring that everyone can access our services without facing any disadvantages. We have various measures in place to make sure our assessments are accessible to all, in accordance with the Equality Act 2010. DWP meets legal accessibility requirements by ensuring our services are accessible to everyone.
We consider the specific needs of individuals who require a particular assessment method due to their health condition or circumstances. At every stage of the claim process, individuals are asked to inform us of any mobility restrictions. If the assessment provider is made aware of these restrictions, they will consider arranging the most appropriate assessment channel.
As part of the FAS process, we first consider the feasibility of a paper-based assessment. If a paper-based review isn't possible, individuals will be invited to an assessment.
If a customer requires a face-to-face assessment and the journey time to the assessment centre exceeds 90 minutes, individuals may be directed to an alternative centre within the 90-minute travel time if one is available. This ensures that claimants travel no more than 90 minutes (one way) by public transport to their assessments. This 90-minute figure is the maximum, and in most cases, travel time will be much shorter. If travel time exceeds 90 minutes by public transport, we can utilise alternative channels, such as using telephone, video, or home assessments, or assisting with travel costs for taxis.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average household income is of people who receive the Personal Independence Payment in (a) Wales and (b) the UK.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The average household income of families in receipt of Personal Independence Payment in the UK and in Wales is shown in the table below:
Weighted mean of household total, gross weekly income from all sources (2022-23) | Household in Receipt of PIP Daily Living Only | Household in Receipt of PIP Mobility Only | Household in Receipt of PIP Daily Living and Mobility |
UK | £639 | £810 | £753 |
Wales | £488 | £314 | £735 |
This data is available publicly on the Stat Xplore website (https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/) under the Family Resources Survey folder, in the Household dataset (2022-23).
Please note:
- Average household income is estimated based on sample data from the Family Resources Survey (FRS).
- The data uses grossing factors based on 2011 Census data, so caution should be exercised when making comparisons with published reports and tables prior to 2012-13.
- Relative to administrative records, the FRS is known to under-report State Support and benefit receipt. Please refer to the M6A and M6B tables in the FRS Methodology and Standard Error data tables.
- In 2022-23, income from Pensioner Cost of Living Payment, Disability Cost of Living Payment, low-income benefits and tax credits Cost of Living Payment, Council Tax energy rebate, Energy Bills Support Scheme, Warm Home Discount and Welsh Fuel Support Scheme is included.
- From 2021-22 income from directors’ dividends has been included in this data.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to review Personal Independence Payment Mandatory Reconsideration decision timelines to align with the eight week period before a Motability vehicle must be returned.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The role of a Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) decision maker is to make a robust decision, supported by the law and available evidence.
In law there is no time limit within which a MR decision must be made. This reflects the overarching policy that the focus should be on making the right decision and not the speed of clearance. Decisions will be made without delay, but if the decision maker considers that more time is needed to gather or consider evidence, then they will give themselves that time to ensure they are confident that the decision made is correct.
There are no plans to review PIP MR timelines to align with the eight week period before a Motability vehicle must be returned. However, we are recruiting more MR decision makers and making overtime available to increase productivity and, in doing so, we expect to reduce wait times.
Asked by: Llinos Medi (Plaid Cymru - Ynys Môn)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of increasing the rate of Statutory Sick Pay.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government reviews the rate of Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) annually as part of the uprating process. We are committed to building our understanding of how our plans to strengthen SSP, announced in our Plan to Make Work Pay, will impact employers and employees alike.
Through the Employment Rights Bill we are removing the Waiting Period so that SSP is payable from the first day of sickness absence, and we are also removing the Lower Earnings Limit which will widen eligibility to the up to 1.3 million employees who are currently not entitled to SSP.
Many employers choose to go further than paying the statutory minimum and provide more financial support to their employees during a sickness absence. Around 60% of all employees eligible to receive such contractual sick pay. Those who need additional financial support while off sick may be able to receive more help through the welfare system such as Universal Credit, depending on their individual circumstances.