Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 23 October 2023 to Question 201819 on Refugees: Finance, what guidance his Department has issued to Job Centre staff on the ability of a refugee to make a claim for Universal Credit before they have received their Biometric Residence Permit.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Those granted refugee status have recourse to public funds and are able to apply for Universal Credit as soon as they receive their grant of status. Individuals do not need to have received their Biometric Residence Permit before making a claim to Universal Credit. They will need to be able to verify their identity and their refugee status for their claim to be processed. Although refugees normally rely on their Biometric Residence Permit to verify their identity and their refugee status, other documents can be accepted.
DWP Staff are instructed to consider all available evidence when assessing a benefit claim, including checking directly with the Home Office to confirm immigration status where they are unsure. We are currently reviewing the guidance for staff on acceptable evidence for refugees including alternative evidence for those yet to receive a Biometric Residence Permit.
We are also reviewing our public guidance to make clear that those granted refugee status should make a claim to Universal Credit as soon as they receive their grant of status if they require financial support and should not wait until they receive their Biometric Residence Permit. This reflects the advice refugees are given in Home Office communications when they receive their grant of status.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 23 October 2023 to Question 201819 on Refugees: Finance, whether someone with refugee status may make an application for Universal Credit before they have received their Biometric Residence Permit.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Those granted refugee status have recourse to public funds and are able to apply for Universal Credit as soon as they receive their grant of status. Individuals do not need to have received their Biometric Residence Permit before making a claim to Universal Credit. They will need to be able to verify their identity and their refugee status for their claim to be processed. Although refugees normally rely on their Biometric Residence Permit to verify their identity and their refugee status, other documents can be accepted.
DWP Staff are instructed to consider all available evidence when assessing a benefit claim, including checking directly with the Home Office to confirm immigration status where they are unsure. We are currently reviewing the guidance for staff on acceptable evidence for refugees including alternative evidence for those yet to receive a Biometric Residence Permit.
We are also reviewing our public guidance to make clear that those granted refugee status should make a claim to Universal Credit as soon as they receive their grant of status if they require financial support and should not wait until they receive their Biometric Residence Permit. This reflects the advice refugees are given in Home Office communications when they receive their grant of status.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has issued guidance to Job Centre staff on the fact that a refugee does not need to have received their Biometric Residence Permit before making a claim for Universal Credit.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Those granted refugee status have recourse to public funds and are able to apply for Universal Credit as soon as they receive their grant of status. Individuals do not need to have received their Biometric Residence Permit before making a claim to Universal Credit. They will need to be able to verify their identity and their refugee status for their claim to be processed. Although refugees normally rely on their Biometric Residence Permit to verify their identity and their refugee status, other documents can be accepted.
DWP Staff are instructed to consider all available evidence when assessing a benefit claim, including checking directly with the Home Office to confirm immigration status where they are unsure. We are currently reviewing the guidance for staff on acceptable evidence for refugees including alternative evidence for those yet to receive a Biometric Residence Permit.
We are also reviewing our public guidance to make clear that those granted refugee status should make a claim to Universal Credit as soon as they receive their grant of status if they require financial support and should not wait until they receive their Biometric Residence Permit. This reflects the advice refugees are given in Home Office communications when they receive their grant of status.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data his Department holds on the number of people using food banks in each month since January 2022.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Foodbanks are independent, charitable organisations and HM Government does not have any role in their operation. As such, monthly breakdowns are not available.
National statistics on food bank use for 2021/22 are available here. We aim to publish statistics for 2022/23 in March 2024.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to (a) tackle unemployment and (b) promote job retention in the tourism and hospitality sector.
Answered by Mims Davies - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government’s Job Retention and Eat Out to Help Out schemes have provided unprecedented support to the tourism and hospitality sector
The August 2020 statistics[1] show that the accommodation and food services sector has seen 77% of employments furloughed, with over £4.7 billion claimed through CJRS. 87% of employers in this sector have furloughed at least one employment.
By midnight on 31 August more than 100 million meals were eaten by diners as part of Eat Out to Help Out, with the 84,700 establishments signed up to the scheme making 130,000 claims worth £522 million[2].
For those in the sector that have unfortunately been made unemployed, I am working with colleagues from across government to ensure these people can access support to pivot into sectors where jobs are available.
More widely, my department is working closely with other government departments, external organisations and local partners to support people into work. The Kickstart scheme was recently announced to help young people aged 16-24 find 6-month work places, while the start of Job Entry Targeted Support (JETS) and Job Finding Support Service will follow.
As my Rt Hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer set out in his Plans for Jobs statement[3] in July, DWP is also doubling the number of work coaches in Job Centres to help provide the urgent support needed for jobseekers to find work, including those in the tourism and hospitality sector.
As well as this, DWP designed two websites that were launched in April, Jobhelp and Employer Help, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, recognising both a radically different labour market as some sectors contract and others expand. Jobhelp[4] offers job search advice, showcases recruiting sectors and signposts to job vacancies to help people successfully find work.
[1] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-statistics-august-2020
[2] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-diners-eat-100-million-meals-to-protect-2-million-jobs
[3] https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/a-plan-for-jobs-2020
[4] https://jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to waive National Insurance requirements in determining the eligibility of claimants for social security in response to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Will Quince
As both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made clear, the Government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID 19 and we have been clear in our intention that no one should be penalised for doing the right thing. These are rapidly developing circumstances, we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has plans to pay universal credit to claimants on the day of application as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department is monitoring the adequacy of its response to the spread of COVID-19 closely and is determined to provide effective financial support to people
across the country during this challenging period. Further measures will be taken if shown to be necessary.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has plans to pay employment and support allowance to claimants on the first day of application as a result of the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Those applying for Contributory ESA are able to claim from day 1 – as opposed to day 8. And we have removed the need for face-to-face assessment.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
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 effectiveness of the mandatory reconsideration process.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Earlier this year we implemented a new approach to handling applications for Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) in PIP which includes contacting claimants, where appropriate, to see if there is information that would enable us to change the decision. To support this, we are investing additional time for communication, evidence gather and review. This approach supports our aim of making the right decision as early as possible, so that claimants don’t need to progress to the appeal stage. Early results have been positive and the same approach has now been adopted in ESA and UC. We continue to engage with stakeholders to explore how we can further improve the effectiveness of the MR process.
Asked by: Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat - Westmorland and Lonsdale)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that the mandatory reconsideration process is an effective means of redress for applicants who have not been awarded personal independence payment.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson
Earlier this year we implemented a new approach to handling applications for Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) in PIP which includes contacting claimants, where appropriate, to see if there is information that would enable us to change the decision. To support this, we are investing additional time for communication, evidence gather and review. This approach supports our aim of making the right decision as early as possible, so that claimants don’t need to progress to the appeal stage. Early results have been positive and the same approach has now been adopted in ESA and UC. We continue to engage with stakeholders to explore how we can further improve the effectiveness of the MR process.