Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of increasing the rate of the carer’s allowance to match the rate of jobseeker’s allowance.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This Government recognises and values the vital contribution made by carers in supporting some of the most vulnerable in society.
The information requested on the cost to the public purse of increasing the rate of Carer’s Allowance to that of Jobseeker’s Allowance is not available but an indicative cost can be calculated using data published on StatXplore and gov.uk.
The current rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance for those aged 25 and over is £73.10. The difference between this and the rate of Carer’s Allowance (currently £66.15 a week) is £6.95. As of November 2018, there were approximately 780,000 claimants receiving Carer’s Allowance in England and Wales. Thus, paying an additional £6.95 a week to carers in England and Wales would cost in the region of £280m a year. Carer’s Allowance has been devolved to the Scottish Government since September 2018 and is delivered in Scotland by DWP for an interim period under an Agency Agreement.
The Government also provides targeted financial support for carers on low incomes through income-related benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Income Support. In April 2019, the additional amount for carers in receipt of Pension Credit and Income Support increased to £36.85 a week. The Universal Credit carer element increased to £160.20 per monthly assessment period. Universal Credit also adjusts to fluctuating earnings and periods when paid employment is not feasible, for example due to caring responsibilities. The Government is committed to helping carers balance providing care with their own paid employment where this is possible, as indicated in the Carers Action Plan.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of increasing carer's allowance to the same level as jobseeker’s allowance.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This Government recognises and values the vital contribution made by carers in supporting some of the most vulnerable in society.
The information requested on the cost to the public purse of increasing the rate of Carer’s Allowance to that of Jobseeker’s Allowance is not available but an indicative cost can be calculated using data published on StatXplore and gov.uk.
The current rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance for those aged 25 and over is £73.10. The difference between this and the rate of Carer’s Allowance (currently £66.15 a week) is £6.95. As of November 2018, there were approximately 780,000 claimants receiving Carer’s Allowance in England and Wales. Thus, paying an additional £6.95 a week to carers in England and Wales would cost in the region of £280m a year. Carer’s Allowance has been devolved to the Scottish Government since September 2018 and is delivered in Scotland by DWP for an interim period under an Agency Agreement.
The Government also provides targeted financial support for carers on low incomes through income-related benefits such as Universal Credit, Pension Credit and Income Support. In April 2019, the additional amount for carers in receipt of Pension Credit and Income Support increased to £36.85 a week. The Universal Credit carer element increased to £160.20 per monthly assessment period. Universal Credit also adjusts to fluctuating earnings and periods when paid employment is not feasible, for example due to caring responsibilities. The Government is committed to helping carers balance providing care with their own paid employment where this is possible, as indicated in the Carers Action Plan.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will place in the Library, a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding between her Department and HMRC in relation to the EU Settlement Scheme.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) regarding the EU Settlement Scheme have set out the information sharing arrangements between the Home Office and DWP, and separately, between the Home Office and HMRC. These are available at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/eu-settlement-scheme-uk-tax-and-benefits-records-automated-check. Each department has direct arrangements with the Home Office, therefore there is no requirement for an MOU between DWP and HMRC.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
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 effect of the (a) Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (England) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, (b) Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and (c) Social Security (Income-related Benefits) (Updating and Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 on the right of people with pre-settled status to access public funds.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The Government has always been clear that EU, EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members granted status through the EU Settlement Scheme will be able to continue their lives in the UK much as before, with the same entitlements as now to access benefits, social housing and homelessness assistance services. Those granted pre-settled status under the scheme will not have any change in their entitlement to access benefits and services.
A consultation has not been carried out as these regulations do not reflect a change in the existing rules or government policy and therefore will not have any adverse effects. These regulations provide legal clarity to claimants, applicants, decision makers and local authorities, delivering continuity and ensuring that the existing rules are applied fairly.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions she had with stakeholder groups representing EEA citizens on the (a) Allocation of Housing and Homelessness (Eligibility) (England) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019, (b) Child Benefit and Child Tax Credit (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and (c) Social Security (Income-related Benefits) (Updating and Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The Government has always been clear that EU, EEA and Swiss nationals and their family members granted status through the EU Settlement Scheme will be able to continue their lives in the UK much as before, with the same entitlements as now to access benefits, social housing and homelessness assistance services. Those granted pre-settled status under the scheme will not have any change in their entitlement to access benefits and services.
A consultation has not been carried out as these regulations do not reflect a change in the existing rules or government policy and therefore will not have any adverse effects. These regulations provide legal clarity to claimants, applicants, decision makers and local authorities, delivering continuity and ensuring that the existing rules are applied fairly.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the annual budget has been for the Health and Safety Executive in each of the last three years; and how many staff that body has employed in each of the last three years.
Answered by Sarah Newton
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) reports the following figures: | |||
Year | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 |
- | £m | £m | £m |
Government Funding | 134 | 133 | 128 |
Income | 90 | 91 | 93 |
Annual Spending | 224 | 224 | 221 |
Year | 2015/16 | 2016/17 | 2017/18 |
Staff Employed | 2,774 | 2,748 | 2,686 |
Notes:
1. Government funding is the Net Operating Cost from HSE's Annual Report and Accounts (ARA)
2. Income includes cost recovery and commercial activies
3. Annual Spending is the Total Operating Cost from HSE's ARA
4. Staff employed is the average headcount figure
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department plans to publish the updated guidance on reassessments for personal independence payment claimants with severe or progressive conditions requiring high level support.
Answered by Sarah Newton
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 10 October 2018 to Question UIN174062
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many DS1500 forms have been issued in each of the last five years.
Answered by Sarah Newton
This information is not collected as DWP do not issue the DS1500 report. GPs and Consultants have direct access to the blank DS1500 report and send the completed report to DWP.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make TrainingBuild for Universal Credit available to welfare advice centre staff.
Answered by Alok Sharma - COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
While the Universal Credit Full Service training platform cannot be released to non-DWP staff for security reasons, there are a range of alternate materials available to inform our stakeholders of our processes and online systems.
As part of our engagement workshops and sessions with external partners, including welfare advice staff, we have introduced a number of materials that show elements of the online service and demonstrate how we use it to manage claims. These cover aspects such as opening accounts, making claims, use of the online journal and reclaims. These are supported by freely available online videos and publications which tell the story of the transition to Universal Credit.
Asked by: Paul Blomfield (Labour - Sheffield Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the latest projected end date is for the migration from disability living allowance personal independence payment.
Answered by Sarah Newton
We continue to review the pace of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) reassessment activity on a regular basis to make sure that we are striking an appropriate balance between inviting eligible claimants to claim PIP in a timely manner and ensuring the system is working as effectively as possible. Children in receipt of DLA when reaching age 16 will continue to be invited to claim PIP at that point.