Asked by: Oliver Colvile (Conservative - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
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 parity of treatment for people with physical and mental health issues when applying for benefits.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
DWP is totally committed to delivering good quality services that are accessible to all customers. We offer services through face to face, telephone and a range of digital channels, ensuring that the needs of all customer groups are considered. All DWP digital services meet Government accessibility standards and have assisted digital plans in place to support customers that need help to apply for benefits online. A Ministerial Taskforce of disability organisations meets several times a year to advise and support DWP in making customer information and contact more accessible and understandable. We have recently amended the “how to claim” pages for all benefits on GOV.UK, to make it clearer how disabled customers can request information in alternative formats. DWP is also trialling Video Relay Service and Next Generation Text Services for Deaf and hard of hearing customers so they receive as good a service from telephony agents as non-disabled customers. Specialist services are available for relevant groups and training is given to colleagues to identify and support customers with mental health conditions and learning difficulties.
Asked by: Oliver Colvile (Conservative - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
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 increase awareness among pensioners of the benefits for which they are eligible.
Answered by Steve Webb
Four months before people reach State Pension age, the Department writes, inviting them to claim their State Pension. An information leaflet about the State Pension is enclosed with that letter; it provides details of how to claim Pension Credit.
The easiest way for customers to claim Pension Credit is by telephone removing the need to complete lengthy application forms; they can also claim Housing Benefit at the same time, and are advised of Pension Credit when they claim their State Pension.
DWP has also introduced a web-based Pension Credit toolkit at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/pension-credit-toolkit
Its purpose is to provide customer representative organisations with all the information needed in order to talk to pensioners about Pension Credit and other benefits they may be entitled to such as Attendance Allowance. In partnership with Age UK, local authorities and other groups, a structured campaign was undertaken to create awareness of the Toolkit amongst those who support our customers.
Asked by: Oliver Colvile (Conservative - Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will initiate a review of the operation of the shared accommodation rate.
Answered by Steve Webb
The Department has no plans to review the way the Shared Accommodation Rates are calculated. The Rent Officer Services set the rates in line with the current DWP policy for uprating Local Housing Allowance and with reference to evidence of achieved rents in the local area.
In 2014/15, 56 out of the 192 Shared Accommodation Rates have been increased by 4% in those areas where there is the greatest divergence between LHA rates and local rents.