Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints were received in relation to the personal independence payment assessment process in (a) the UK, (b) Wales and (c) Aberavon in each of the last two years.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The total number of complaints received in relation to the PIP assessment process in each of the last two operational years is as follows:
Operational Year 15/16 (April 15 to March 2016)
a) In the UK a total of 142 complaints were logged against the PIP assessment process
b) In Wales a total of 4 complaints were logged against PIP assessment process
c) The DWP complaints system does not collect information at this level of detail.
Operational Year 16/17 (April 2016 to March 2017)
a) In the UK a total of 1391 complaints were logged against the PIP assessment process
b) In Wales a total of 519 complaints were logged against the PIP assessment process
c) The DWP complaints system does not collect information at this level of detail.
Data provided for complaints received within the 2015/216 and 2016/2017 operational years.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints were upheld in relation to the personal independence payment assessment process in (a) the UK, (b) Wales and (c) Aberavon in each of the last two years.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The number of complaints upheld in relation to the PIP assessment process in the last is as follows:
Operational Year 15/16 (April 15 to March 2016)
a) In the UK, 133 complaints were closed in relation to the PIP assessment process, of which 67 were upheld
b) In Wales, 4 complaints were closed in relation to the PIP assessment process, of which 2 were upheld
c) The DWP complaints system does not collect information at this level of detail
Operational Year 16/17 (April 2016 to March 2017)
a) In the UK, 1345 complaints were closed in relation to the PIP assessment process, of which 545 were upheld
b) In Wales, 506 complaints were closed in relation to the PIP assessment process, of which 206 were upheld
c) The DWP complaints system does not collect information at this level of detail
Data provided for complaints closed and upheld within the 2015/216 and 2016/2017 operational years.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much has been spent defending appeals of personal independence payment decisions in (a) the UK, (b) Wales and (c) Aberavon in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The information is not readily available and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
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 (a) quality and (b) consistency in the delivery of personal independence payment assessments across the UK in each of the last five years for which figures are available.
Answered by Penny Mordaunt - Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons
The Department has set standards for the quality of assessments which both Personal Independence Payment providers must meet, which the Department monitors. The standards require assessment providers to provide the Department’s Decision Makers with an assessment that is clear and medically reasonable.
We are continually working with the assessment providers to further improve the quality of assessments including clinical coaching, feedback and support available to each assessor.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department provides to ex-service personnel who face the under-occupancy charge.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The policy to remove the spare room subsidy applies to all working age Housing Benefit and Universal Credit claimants living in and under-occupying social housing without exception.
A couple of easements apply. For example an extra bedroom is provided for those who require overnight care from a non-resident carer and for couples who are unable to share a bedroom due to disabilities.
Since 2011, the Government has provided local authorities with around £900 million in Discretionary Housing Payment funding to support vulnerable Housing Benefit and Universal Credit claimants who are unable to mitigate the impact of welfare housing reforms.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department provides for universal credit claimants for (a) budgeting, (b) managing a claim online and (c) complex claims.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
By design, Universal Credit is a much simpler system than that it replaces. It is easier for claimants to understand their entitlements and easier to administer. Nonetheless, we recognise that it represents a significant change for claimants, and some will find it challenging. That is why Universal Credit has an unprecedented level of personalised support for each claimant and there are a number of safeguards to support them, especially at the start of the claim. For example advances are available to help people manage until their first payment, this can amount to 50% of their indicative award and is payable straight away.
Furthermore, ‘Universal Support’ is being rolled out alongside Universal Credit and is being delivered via a framework approach to allow third sector organisations and Local Authorities to work with jobcentres to deliver the support needed in their local community. The aim is for claimants to receive integrated tailored support journeys and partners can achieve this through best use of local resources.
Part of this offer is budgeting support to help claimants manage their money on a monthly basis, pay bills on time and take responsibility for housing costs. Advice is offered by external organisations with the relevant expertise, online, by phone or face-to-face. Where claimants need help making a claim online, ‘assisted digital’ support is available as part of the package, alongside telephone and face to face support. And for claimants who cannot manage their money on a monthly basis alternative payment arrangements are available. These can include payment of rent direct to a landlord, paying Universal Credit more frequently or splitting the payment between members of the household.
When debt problems are identified then the claimant can be referred on or signposted to other more specialised debt support services
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
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 introducing a comprehensive support package or strategy for those negatively affected by the roll-out of universal credit.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
By design, Universal Credit is a much simpler system than that it replaces. It is easier for claimants to understand their entitlements and easier to administer. Nonetheless, we recognise that it represents a significant change for claimants, and some will find it challenging. That is why Universal Credit has an unprecedented level of personalised support for each claimant and there are a number of safeguards to support them, especially at the start of the claim. For example advances are available to help people manage until their first payment, this can amount to 50% of their indicative award and is payable straight away.
Furthermore, ‘Universal Support’ is being rolled out alongside Universal Credit and is being delivered via a framework approach to allow third sector organisations and Local Authorities to work with jobcentres to deliver the support needed in their local community. The aim is for claimants to receive integrated tailored support journeys and partners can achieve this through best use of local resources.
Part of this offer is budgeting support to help claimants manage their money on a monthly basis, pay bills on time and take responsibility for housing costs. Advice is offered by external organisations with the relevant expertise, online, by phone or face-to-face. Where claimants need help making a claim online, ‘assisted digital’ support is available as part of the package, alongside telephone and face to face support. And for claimants who cannot manage their money on a monthly basis alternative payment arrangements are available. These can include payment of rent direct to a landlord, paying Universal Credit more frequently or splitting the payment between members of the household.
When debt problems are identified then the claimant can be referred on or signposted to other more specialised debt support services
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many ex-service personnel have been affected by the under-occupancy charge.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The information requested is not available.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
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 under-occupancy charge on ex-service personnel.
Answered by Caroline Dinenage
The information requested is not available.
Asked by: Stephen Kinnock (Labour - Aberavon)
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 levels of uptake of advance payment of universal credit in (a) the UK, (b) Wales and (c) Aberavon constituency.
Answered by Damian Hinds - Minister of State (Education)
Any need for an advance payment or other financial or budgeting support should be established at the outset of a claim for Universal Credit. This includes existing benefit claimants who move to Universal Credit through a change of circumstances. In the initial new claim interview, work coaches are trained to offer personal budgeting support and assess whether claimants need help to manage until their first Universal Credit payment. If so they are advised to apply for an advance. Furthermore, additional work has been done by the Department to raise awareness of advances nationally, including providing options on the UC Helpline, and signposting through the new “Universal Credit & you” guide for claimants and on the new online Money Manager tool offered by the Money Advice Service. We will shortly be publishing data on advances.