Non-Departmental Publication (Policy paper)
Social Security Advisory Committee

Apr. 29 2024

Source Page: Administrative Earnings Threshold: letter to the Minister for Communities (Northern Ireland)
Document: (PDF)

Found: Administrative Earnings Threshold: letter to the Minister for Communities (Northern Ireland)

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Deposited Papers
Department for Work and Pensions

Apr. 29 2024

Source Page: I. Universal Credit Programme Board Papers from November and December 2021 and January, February, March and April 2022 [redacted] (58 docs). II. Letter dated 15/04/2024 from Jo Churchill MP to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding documents for deposit in the House libraries. 3p.
Document: K-UCPB_15.03.22-Paper_6-SR21_Allocation_and_Winter_21_Volume_Refresh.pdf (PDF)

Found: Universal Credit Programme Board Papers from November and December 2021 and January, February, March

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Lords Chamber
Child Poverty - Mon 29 Apr 2024
Department for Work and Pensions

Mentions:
1: Baroness Janke (LD - Life peer) This is not just about unemployment and what we hear about universal credit being about making people - Speech Link
2: Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con - Excepted Hereditary) Our policies include: our generous universal credit childcare offer for working parents; our in-work - Speech Link

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Commons Chamber
Health and Disability Reform - Mon 29 Apr 2024
Department for Work and Pensions

Mentions:
1: Mel Stride (Con - Central Devon) We have reformed an outdated and complex legacy benefits system and introduced universal credit—a new - Speech Link
2: Kirsty Blackman (SNP - Aberdeen North) In relation to universal credit, it is a gateway benefit. - Speech Link
3: Mel Stride (Con - Central Devon) capability assessment and PIP becoming the gateway to future universal credit health benefits, as the - Speech Link
4: Mel Stride (Con - Central Devon) area in the Department for Work and Pensions. - Speech Link
5: Chris Bryant (Lab - Rhondda) of universal credit? - Speech Link

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Written Question

Jobcentres: Staff

Monday 29th April 2024

Asked by: Angela Eagle (Labour - Wallasey)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average number of Work Coaches was per Jobcentre in the latest period for which data is available; and what the average caseload was of a Work Coach in the same period.

Answered by Jo Churchill - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

Average number of Work Coaches per Jobcentre

Jobcentres across the DWP estate vary significantly in size and capacity, the average number of Work Coaches per Jobcentre does not reflect this variation and is not a metric used by the Department.

At the end of March 24, the number of full time equivalent (FTE) UC, JSA and ESA Work Coaches across Great Britain was 16,480 and the number of Jobcentres was 634, giving an average number of Work Coaches per Jobcentre of approximately 26.

Notes on the figures:

• Data is correct as at the end of March 24.
• Figures were derived from the Department’s Activity Based Model (ABM), which provides Full Time Equivalent (FTE) figures based on point in time estimate by Line Managers. They cover only FTE of staff with paid employment.
• Work Coach figures include both Universal Credit Work Coaches and Existing Benefit Work Coaches. They do not include Work Coach Team Leaders and Disability Employment Advisers.
• The number of colleagues employed in these directorates is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal departmental use and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. As the Department holds the information, we have released it.

Average caseload of a Work Coach

The table below shows the average number of Universal Credit customers in the Intensive Work Search regime per Universal Credit work coach FTE across Great Britain in March 24.

	March 24
People on UC (Intensive Work Search only)	1,495,380
Number of UC work coaches (FTE)	15,290
Intensive Work Search customers per UC work coach (FTE)	100

Data sources: Work coach FTE - DWP’s internal Activity Based Model, People on UC - Stat-Xplore (https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk)

Please note, the Department does not use caseload per Work Coach to estimate the number of Work Coaches required nationally or locally. Not all UC claimants have a Work Coach, but we have provided the number of Intensive Work Search customers per UC Work Coach as most of this group do. The Department has complex models to estimate the resource required in Jobcentres at a national level. These models cover activities across all DWP customer groups and job roles.

The Department continually impacts and assesses the service being offered to customers. Staff numbers, including the number of Work Coaches, and demand for Jobcentre services are reviewed on an ongoing basis, in line with the latest economic and benefit forecasts.

Notes on the figures:

All figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 and cover Great Britain

People on UC

• The number of Universal Credit claimants includes those who have started Universal Credit (completed the Universal Credit claim process and accepted their Claimant Commitment) and have not had a closure of their claim recorded for this spell, up to the 'count date' (second Thursday in each month).
• A closure of their claim would be recorded either at the request of the individual or if their entitlement to Universal Credit ends, for example, if they no longer satisfy the financial conditions to receive Universal Credit as they have capital over £16,000.
• Labour market regime is based on an individual's circumstances on the count date. More information on the Labour Market Regime can be found using the following link:

Labour Market Regimes

FTE

• Data is correct as at the end of March 24.
• Figures were derived from the Department’s Activity Based Model (ABM), which provides Full Time Equivalent (FTE) figures based on point in time estimate by Line Managers. They cover only FTE of staff with paid employment.
• Work Coach figures include only Universal Credit Work Coaches. The figures do not include Work Coach Team Leaders and Disability Employment Advisers.
• The number of colleagues employed in these directorates is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal departmental use and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard. As the Department holds the information, we have released it.
• UC work coach FTE includes the following ABM categories - (DWP) Reasonable Adjustment (W&H Pilot), (UCJC) 50PLUS Work Coach, (UCJC) IWP Work Coach, (UCJC) Learning Premium, (UCJC) UC 18-24 Work Coach, (UCJC) New Style ESA Work Coach, (UCJC) New Style JSA Work Coach, (UCJC) UC Enhanced Work Coach – SE, (UCJC) UC Start Up Training, (UCJC) UC Work Coach Accreditation, (UCJC) UC Work Coach Group Sessions, (UCJC) UC Work Coach, (UCJC) Work Capability Assessment Referrals, (UCJC) Youth Employability Coach, and (UCJC) Youth Hub Work Coach.

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Written Question

Social Security Benefits: Housing

Monday 29th April 2024

Asked by: Alex Cunningham (Labour - Stockton North)

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the impact of changes in the level of social security benefits on people living in unsuitable housing.

Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Work and Pensions spends around £30bn a year on housing support for renters in both the private and social rented sectors. Benefit rates and the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) are reviewed annually.

From April this year the Government is investing £1.2 billion increasing LHA rates to the 30th percentile of local market rents. This significant investment ensures 1.6 million private renters in receipt of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit gain on average, nearly £800 in additional help towards their rental costs in 2024/25.

LHA provides a reasonable level of housing support towards rental costs in the private rented sector. LHA rates are not intended to cover all rents in all areas.

The Department works closely with other government departments, stakeholders, jobcentres, and local authorities to understand the impact of its policies.

For those who face a shortfall in meeting their housing costs and need further support Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs) are available from local authorities. Since 2011 the Government has provided nearly £1.7 billion in DHP funding to local authorities.

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