Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to exclude future increases to the State Pension from the calculation of income for the purpose of housing benefit eligibility.
Answered by Will Quince
Housing Benefit is an income-related benefit which is intended to assist people who need help to pay their rent. Any income that is available to meet those expenses, such as a State Pension, is normally taken fully into account when working out how much Housing Benefit can be paid.
There are no plans to amend regulations to allow a disregard for State Pension income, including any increases each year.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she plans to take through the benefits system to support tenants to meet their rent payments during the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Will Quince
We have increased the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants so that it covers the cheapest third of local rents – which is on average £600 in people’s pockets.
The government has brought forward a package of measures to protect renters affected by coronavirus. With these in force, no renter in either social or private accommodation will be forced out of their home.
From 26 March, landlords have had to give all renters 3 months’ notice if they intend to seek possession (i.e. serve notice that they want to end the tenancy) – this means the landlord can’t apply to start the court process until after this period.
This extended buffer period will apply in law until 30 September 2020 and both the end point, and the 3 month notice period can be extended if needed.
From 27 March, the court service has suspended all ongoing housing possession action – this means that neither cases currently in the system or any about to go in to it can progress to the stage where someone could be evicted.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether people with a reduced income after following guidance on coivd-19 are eligible for assistance with rented housing costs through the Discretionary Housing Payments scheme; and whether additional funding has been allocated to local authorities for that payment scheme.
Answered by Will Quince
We have increased the Local Housing Allowance rates for Universal Credit and Housing Benefit claimants so that it covers the cheapest third of local rents – which is on average £600 in people’s pockets.
Discretionary Housing Payments are made at local authority discretion, including the amount and duration of any award.
Local authorities administer the scheme as they are best placed to make informed judgements about relative priorities and needs in their area to ensure that the most vulnerable are supported and the limited funds are targeted effectively.
As we have announced at the spending round for 2020/21 there is £179.5m in DHPs for Local authorities to support renters with housing costs in the private and social rented sector. The increase to the Local Housing Allowance rates will help alleviate shortfalls in the private rented sector and relieve pressure on DHPs.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire)
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 effect of the introduction of fees in the Child Maintenance Service on collection rates of child maintenance.
Answered by Caroline Nokes
Evaluation and research on the effects of the introduction of fees and charges in the Child Maintenance Service was published in December 2016, in line with our statutory obligation. The Department expects to publish a Review Report in spring this year, including a summary of the key findings from the research and statistics.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire)
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 make sure that British Sign Language users are made aware that the two-ticks scheme is being transferred to Disability Confident.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
Disability Confident is a pan-disability scheme that has been designed and developed by disabled people, disability organisations and employers. The scheme provides employers with the tools they need to recruit, retain and develop disabled employees. Embedded within the scheme are links to useful videos, information and a range of guidance.
The scheme went live in a test and learn phase in July and was formally launched on 2nd November 2016 at the Recruitment Employment Confederation in London, with press releases and promotion through mainstream media, social media, Jobcentre Plus, disability organisations, and Disabled People's User Led Organisations. Further promotion of the scheme is being planned, including material in BSL.
The aim of the scheme is to reach the widest possible number of employers, covering all sizes and sectors. This includes employers from the construction industry, a number of whom have already signed up. Officials from my Department have worked with representatives from the Construction Industry Council (CIC) to help the construction industry become Disability Confident.
The Disability Confident scheme contains embedded links to information for employers about supporting staff with hearing loss, including references to Access to Work. The Access to Work scheme can assist where disabled people need support above and beyond employer-provided reasonable adjustments. Access to Work features specialist teams who provide a dedicated service to particular groups of customers, including deaf customers. The Government has committed to supporting an additional 25,000 people through Access to Work by 2021.
Asked by: Richard Fuller (Conservative - North Bedfordshire)
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 ensure that employers based within the construction industry are engaged with the Disability Confident scheme.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt
Disability Confident is a pan-disability scheme that has been designed and developed by disabled people, disability organisations and employers. The scheme provides employers with the tools they need to recruit, retain and develop disabled employees. Embedded within the scheme are links to useful videos, information and a range of guidance.
The scheme went live in a test and learn phase in July and was formally launched on 2nd November 2016 at the Recruitment Employment Confederation in London, with press releases and promotion through mainstream media, social media, Jobcentre Plus, disability organisations, and Disabled People's User Led Organisations. Further promotion of the scheme is being planned, including material in BSL.
The aim of the scheme is to reach the widest possible number of employers, covering all sizes and sectors. This includes employers from the construction industry, a number of whom have already signed up. Officials from my Department have worked with representatives from the Construction Industry Council (CIC) to help the construction industry become Disability Confident.
The Disability Confident scheme contains embedded links to information for employers about supporting staff with hearing loss, including references to Access to Work. The Access to Work scheme can assist where disabled people need support above and beyond employer-provided reasonable adjustments. Access to Work features specialist teams who provide a dedicated service to particular groups of customers, including deaf customers. The Government has committed to supporting an additional 25,000 people through Access to Work by 2021.