Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Office for National Statistics Public Sector Employment data, what assessment she has made of the effect on the performance of her Department of the loss of over 20,000 staff since 2013.
Answered by Will Quince
Since 2013, through using a range of tools, we have improved the Department’s efficiency without dropping our performance levels. Our latest published figures show that we:
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 8 July 2019 to Questions 272897 and 272898, what assessment she has made of whether the feedback of Presenting Officers has led to (a) an increase in successful mandatory reconsiderations for claimants, (b) more correct decisions resulting in fewer successful appeals and (c) fewer claims reaching appeal stage.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Feedback from Presenting Officers has contributed to our new approach which includes contacting claimants, where appropriate, to see if there is information that would enable us to change the decision ourselves. To support this, we are investing additional time for communication, evidence gather and review. This approach supports our aim - to make the right decision as early as possible - so claimants don’t need to progress to the Appeal stage.
It is still too early to assess the full impact of this approach. However initial feedback has been positive and the recently published PIP Official Statistics up to April 2019 showed an increase in the proportion of decisions changed at the Mandatory Reconsideration stage since the approach was implemented.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether it is her Department's policy that all female benefits claimants are asked whether they are or have been victims of domestic abuse.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department is sensitive to the fact that it can be difficult for any victim of domestic abuse to come forward and disclose this. Universal Credit claimants are assigned to a single work coach, with whom they can build a trusting relationship. All of our work coaches have received mandatory training, developed with input from domestic abuse charities, to help them recognise the signs of abuse. If it becomes apparent that a claimant has been or is a victim of domestic abuse, as soon as they feel able to disclose this personal and sensitive information, a discussion should take place about their circumstances, to enable their work coach to tailor the support they provide to the claimant’s needs. This includes signposting the claimant to expert organisations. Almost all Jobcentres have private rooms available so that individuals can discuss these sensitive issues in private.
By summer 2019, we will have implemented advocates for domestic abuse services in every Jobcentre to further raise awareness of domestic abuse, and to support our work coaches.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how feedback from presenting officers in personal independence payment tribunals is used to inform future decision making on personal independence payment cases.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The helpful feedback from Presenting Officers (POs), has resulted in decision makers, appeals writers and POs themselves, reviewing their approach to the weighing of evidence, including taking a more considerative view of existing evidence. Changes have also been made to how decisions are being explained to claimants and in the paperwork prepared for appeal tribunals. Further, it has fed into our new approach for PIP cases where we contact claimants, where appropriate, to see if there is information that would enable us to change the decision ourselves at Mandatory Reconsideration or at the appeal stage.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
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 quality of the feedback received from presenting officers on personal independence payment tribunals.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The helpful feedback from Presenting Officers (POs), has resulted in decision makers, appeals writers and POs themselves, reviewing their approach to the weighing of evidence, including taking a more considerative view of existing evidence. Changes have also been made to how decisions are being explained to claimants and in the paperwork prepared for appeal tribunals. Further, it has fed into our new approach for PIP cases where we contact claimants, where appropriate, to see if there is information that would enable us to change the decision ourselves at Mandatory Reconsideration or at the appeal stage.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to bring forward legislative proposals for the introduction of collective defined contribution schemes.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
This Government has recently published a response to a Collective Defined Contribution schemes consultation, and have engaged extensively with key stakeholders. In this response we have committed to facilitate Collective Defined Contribution schemes and have stated that the Government will bring forward Primary legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows.
The response can be viewed here:
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have been refused personal independence payments as a result of the past presence rule on residency (a) since 2013 and (b) in the last 12 months.
Answered by Sarah Newton
The Department does not hold the data requested.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the roll-out of universal credit on families with disabled children.
Answered by Sarah Newton
In formulating Universal Credit policy for support for families with disabled children the Government’s aim was to simplify previous provision and align the lower disabled child addition with that for adults. This was in order to ensure that, for this group, the extra amounts that are payable for disability were aligned when the young person claims benefit in their own right. The Government also took the opportunity to refocus resources on the most severely disabled children and adults and extended eligibility for the higher rate to children who are registered blind.
The Government is committed to supporting disabled people, improving the quality of life of those facing disadvantage and tackling poverty by addressing the causes driving it. We recognise that there can be extra costs associated with disability. Universal Credit provides additional support for disabled adults and disabled children.
No one, including households with disabled children, will have a reduced benefit entitlement at the point that they move over to Universal Credit as a result of managed migration.
Universal Credit claimants who are responsible for a child or a qualifying young person may be entitled to a Disabled Child Addition for each eligible child. This continues to be available for all eligible children, regardless of the total number of children in the household.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reasons the Credit Union Expansion Project has been closed; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The DWP engaged a contractor to deliver Credit Union Expansion Project. The contractor repeatedly failed to meet its obligations. This left them in breach of contract and left the DWP with no alternative but to terminate the contract.
Asked by: Peter Kyle (Labour - Hove)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who are in receipt of support for mortgage interest have applied for the replacement loan.
Answered by Kit Malthouse
At week commencing 5th March 2018, 10,179 claimants have stated their intention to take up the offer of an SMI loan.