Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support people with (a) Parkinson's and (b) other long-term conditions with their basic financial outgoings.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
People on low, or no income or earnings who have a health condition or disability which restricts the amount of work they can do, can claim Universal Credit (UC). They must provide medical evidence to support their claim - most commonly a Statement of Fitness for Work, usually referred to as a fit note. Claimants whose health condition or disability continues for four weeks or more are referred for a work capability assessment (WCA). The WCA determines how an individual’s health condition or disability affects their ability to work. A key principle is that the WCA considers the impact a person’s disability or health condition has on them, not the condition itself.
Where it has been decided that claimants have limited capability for work (LCW) or limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA), they will be entitled to a work allowance, and in couple claims where one is working, access to help with childcare costs. Where it has been decided that claimants have LCWRA, they may be entitled to the award of an additional amount of benefit – the LCWRA addition – which is £390.06 per month (2023-24 rates).
Where it has been decided that claimants have LCW, they are not reasonably expected to look for work at present but are expected to prepare for work in the future. Where it has been decided that claimants have LCWRA, they are not expected to look for work or required to undertake any work-related activity. Where it has been decided that claimants are fit for work, they are expected to undertake work-related activity and to look for work.
People whose capability for work is impacted because they are disabled or have a health condition, including people who have Parkinson’s and other long term health conditions, may also be eligible for New Style Employment and Support Allowance (NS ESA) subject to satisfying both the basic and National Insurance contribution conditions. NS ESA is an earnings replacement benefit for working age people who are unable to work due to a health condition or disability. In addition to the support provided for basic financial outgoings by UC people with a long-term health condition or disability may be entitled to support with disability-related extra costs through benefits such as Personal Independence Payment.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman’s reports on the Women's State Pension age, what recent discussions he has had with the Ombudsman on its investigation into communication of changes to women’s state pension; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Laura Trott - Chief Secretary to the Treasury
It would not be appropriate to comment on the investigation. The Ombudsman’s investigation is ongoing, and the Ombudsman has not given his final findings. Section 7(2) of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 states that Ombudsman investigations “shall be conducted in private.
We are cooperating with the Ombudsman’s investigation.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he has concluded his annual review of benefits; and whether this review considered how many blind and partially sighted people use disability benefits intended to cover the additional costs their disability incurs on basic essentials
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The outcome of the Secretary of State’s annual review of State Pension and benefit rates will be announced shortly. Under the Equality Act 2010, public authorities are required to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and to consider the effects of his decisions on those with protected characteristics, which includes disability.
In England and Wales, as of February 2022, there were 43 thousand people with Attendance Allowance who report visual disorders as their primary condition and 21 thousand claiming Disabled Living Allowance. As of July 2022, there were 51 thousand people claiming Personal Independence Payment who report visual disorders as their primary condition. These figures exclude Scotland and Northern Ireland because these benefits are devolved to the Scottish Parliament and are a transferred matter in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the report by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman entitled, Women’s State Pension age: our findings on the Department for Work and Pensions’ communication of changes, published on 29 July 2021, what assessment she has made of the implications for her policies of the Ombudsman's findings and potential for compensation for claimants impacted by the changes to women’s State Pension age.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has not completed his investigation. This a multi staged process and the report published on 20 July 2021 concludes stage-one of the investigation.
It would not be appropriate to comment on the PHSO’s report whilst the investigation is ongoing; and section 7(2) of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 states that Ombudsman investigations “shall be conducted in private”.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the Government's timeframe is for back-dating payments to women who were not awarded automatic national insurance contributions top-ups by her Department.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Any women who believe they are being underpaid State Pension should contact the Department. Details on how to do this through the Pension Service are available on the gov.uk website.
The Department is aware of a number of cases where individuals have been underpaid State Pension. We are checking for further cases and any that are found will be looked at in line with the relevant legislation.
Those who are already getting a State Pension based on their own National Insurance contributions must make a separate claim for the top up if their husband reached State Pension age before 17 March 2008. The top up payments can be backdated for a maximum of 12 months before the date the claim is made. If the husband reached State Pension age on or after 17 March 2008, a separate claim for the top up is not needed and it can be paid from the date of entitlement.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether carer's allowance payments are eligible to be counted towards the £118 earnings threasehold for statutory sick pay.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
An employer is liable to pay Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) if they have paid their employee at least £118 per week on average. State benefits, such as Carer’s Allowance are therefore not eligible to be counted towards the £118 earnings threshold for SSP.
We have a safety-net, through the welfare system, for those who are not eligible for SSP. We are already making sure that benefits are easily accessible and more supportive for those who need to make a claim.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department has provided on which employer is responsible for statutory sick pay for employees who have more than one job.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Employees with more than one job may receive Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) from each employer if they meet all eligibility criteria in each case. Guidance regarding this is available here: https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/what-youll-get
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will take steps to ensure that future contracts for carrying out personal independence payment assessments contain provision for financial penalties for cases where inaccurate advice has been given to the Department in relation to their decision on an applicant's health and well-being.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The current contracts for Personal Independence Payment assessments include numerous financial remedies, including several related to the quality of the assessment report. The terms and conditions of the future contracts for health assessments are still being worked through, but will include financial remedies and will build on what we have learned from previous contracts.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average cost was to her Department of personal independence payment appeals which over-turned the decision of her Department over the last two years.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Paul Girvan (Democratic Unionist Party - South Antrim)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what discussions officials in the Department have had with Motability to enable people awarded 10 points for the mobility component of a personal independence award to join the scheme using the standard rate award and a top-up made by the claimant.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Officials for the Department for Work and Pensions meet regularly with Motability, the charity. Senior officials attend the quarterly Board of Governors meetings and at a working level, officials have regular discussions regarding the Motability Scheme. These discussions cover a range of areas of interest for both the Department and Motability. However, while the Department works closely with Motability, it is an independent charity that is responsible for the oversight of the Scheme. Legislation currently only allows claimants in receipt of the higher rate of DLA or the enhanced rate of PIP mobility component to be direct transferred to Motability and therefore join the Scheme.