Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the impact of rising inflation rates on the level of (a) overall poverty, (b) child poverty and (c) in work poverty for families and individuals receiving Universal Credit in the City of Durham.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
No assessment has been made.
The Government is committed to a sustainable, long-term approach to tackling poverty and supporting people on lower incomes. We will spend over £242bn through the welfare system in 2022/23 including £108bn on people of working age.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment has been made of the potential merits of extending the eligibility of carers allowance to those who are in receipt of the state pension but also act as a carer.
Answered by Claire Coutinho - Shadow Minister (Equalities)
I refer the honourable member to the answer my right honourable friend, Chloe Smith, the then Minister for Disabled People, Work and Health gave on 20 April 2022 to question UIN 154461 https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-04-14/154461
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average processing time was for Pension Credit claims made on the Pension Credit Day of Action on 15 June 2022.
Answered by Guy Opperman
This information is not held.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 12 July 2022 to Question 32578 on Pension Credit, what recent steps her Department has taken to help ensure that (a) claims and (b) enquiries for Pension Credit are processed in a reasonable time.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The media campaign continues to reach those who may be entitled to Pension Credit and has had a significant impact on the number of claims the Department has received. This has the Department’s full attention with options. To ensure we provide the right service to these customers additional resource is being deployed and increased digital automation will take place in the coming weeks which will speed up processing time further.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average processing time was for new Pension Credit claims made between 1 April 2022 and 13 July 2022.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Average Actual Clearance Time for Pension Credit New Claims for the period 1st April 2022 to 3rd July 2022 was 40 days. The data is not yet available for period between 4th July to 13th July.
Source: Customer Account Management System
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average processing time was for change in circumstance applications to existing Pension Credit claims in the latest month for which data is available.
Answered by Guy Opperman
The Department does not measure the average clearance times of changes specifically relating to existing Pension Credit claims.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the impact of the level of statutory maternity pay on the ability of couples to afford to start a family.
Answered by Guy Opperman
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is intended to provide a measure of financial security to allow women in the later stages of pregnancy, and shortly after birth, to take time away from work to protect their health and safety and that of their baby. It is not intended to assist with the costs associated with the birth of a new child or to replace a woman's earnings completely.
The rate of SMP is reviewed annually. Generally, it is increased in line with the Consumer Prices Index. Any decision to amend the rate of SMP would need to be made with consideration to the impact on employers and in the context of the wider public finances.
Asked by: Mary Kelly Foy (Labour - City of Durham)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the adequacy of the level of statutory maternity pay.
Answered by Guy Opperman
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is intended to provide a measure of financial security to allow women in the later stages of pregnancy, and shortly after birth, to take time away from work to protect their health and safety and that of their baby. It is not intended to assist with the costs associated with the birth of a new child or to replace a woman's earnings completely.
The rate of SMP is reviewed annually. Generally, it is increased in line with the Consumer Prices Index. Any decision to amend the rate of SMP would need to be made with consideration to the impact on employers and in the context of the wider public finances.