Asked by: Jonathan Ashworth (Labour (Co-op) - Leicester South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her Department's response on 11 February 2019 to the Work and Pensions Committee's 2018 report on Benefit Sanctions, for what reason her Department has not granted researchers at the University of Glasgow access to data on Universal Credit claims and sanctions histories for Scottish Universal Credit claimants to support their study into the health impacts of benefit sanctions; and if she will take steps to make that data available to those researchers in a timely manner.
Answered by Victoria Prentis - Attorney General
The Department has taken the decision not to proceed with this data sharing project and has communicated this with the University.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when her Department plans to respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Glasgow East to the Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work sent on 1 February 2022 and sent by email on 8 March 2022 and 21 March 2022, reference DL10869.
Answered by Guy Opperman - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
A reply was sent to the hon. Member by the Area Director for Universal Credit, on behalf of the Secretary of State, on 26 March 2022.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people were in receipt of universal credit at the start of February 2021 in Glasgow.
Answered by Will Quince
The available information on the number of people on Universal Credit, by local authority, is published monthly and can be found at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/
Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html
Note:
The latest statistics show those on Universal Credit as at 14 January 2021. Statistics for
February 2021 will be published in March 2021.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants in Glasgow are in receipt of universal credit.
Answered by Will Quince
The available information on the number of people on Universal Credit, by local authority, is published monthly and can be found at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/
Guidance on how to extract the information required can be found at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html
Note:
The latest statistics show those on Universal Credit as at 14 January 2021. Statistics for
February 2021 will be published in March 2021.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have been awarded (a) personal independence payment, (b) employment support allowance and (c) the limited capability for work element of universal credit following a (i) telephone and (ii) paper based assessment in (A) the UK, (B) Scotland and (C) Glasgow South West constituency since 19 March 2020.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
The latest available information on assessment outcomes for Personal Independence Payment and Employment and Support Allowance, for various geographical areas, is published and can be found at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml
Guidance for users is available at:
https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants are awaiting an assessment for (a) personal independence payment, (b) employment support allowance, and (c) the limited capability for work element of universal credit in (i) the UK, (ii) Scotland, and (iii) Glasgow South West constituency.
Answered by Justin Tomlinson - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The number of individuals awaiting an assessment can be found below. However, we are unable to provide data at constituency level or to separate out individuals for the Limited Capability for Work element of UC. I have therefore provided the total number of individuals claiming UC awaiting an assessment.
(a) As of the 27 April 2020, the number of individuals claiming PIP with either an assessment scheduled or awaiting scheduling in the UK was 166,630. This PIP data does not include Northern Ireland. 20,870 of these cases were in Scotland.
(b) As of the 4 May 2020, the number of individuals claiming ESA with either an assessment scheduled or awaiting scheduling in the UK was 101,910. 14,460 of these cases were in Scotland.
(c) As of the 4 May 2020, the number of individuals claiming UC with either an assessment scheduled or awaiting scheduling in the UK was 121,640. 13,510 of these cases were in Scotland.
Data supplied by Assessment Provider reports, and rounded to the nearest 10.
Please note this is unpublished data.
The latest published journey time for PIP is 8 weeks on average for a new claim assessment and 10 weeks for a DLA to PIP reassessment (based on the latest published data) and 9 weeks for ESA and we are working with our suppliers to ensure those claimants currently going through the assessment journey are seen as quickly as possible.
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent progress has been made with housing associations in (a) Glasgow South West constituency and (b) Glasgow on their access to information from the Landlord Portal on universal credit claimants; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Will Quince
The Universal Credit Landlord Portal allows social landlords who are registered users, to verify rent and submit managed payment requests through the Landlord Portal, rather than through the established email processes.
Our Trusted Partner scheme allows social landlords to play a key role in engaging with their tenants who are on Universal Credit, helping those who cannot manage their housing payments to access the support available and to request that managed payments are in place where appropriate.
There are now over 750 Social Landlords using the Portal and Trusted Partner scheme, and enrolment onto the Portal & Trusted Partner remains open for any eligible Social Landlords (further details can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-landlord-portal-and-trusted-partner-scheme-for-social-landlords/landlord-portal-and-trusted-partner-scheme-for-social-landlords). The total number of landlords currently enrolled on the Portal represent around 96% of the total Social Rented Sector housing stock.
The Department maintains guidance on GOV.UK, relevant for private and social sector landlords, with information about Universal Credit including the Landlord Portal which has existed since 2017. This can be accessed at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-and-rented-housing--2/universal-credit-and-rented-housing-guide-for-landlords
Asked by: Chris Stephens (Scottish National Party - Glasgow South West)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many advance benefit payments have been made to claimants in Glasgow South West constituency in each month since January 2019.
Answered by Will Quince
New Universal Credit claimants who require urgent financial support, can apply for new claim advances to provide access to a payment quickly, until the first regular payment is due. Additionally, existing Universal Credit claimants who have told the Department about a change in their circumstances, which means more Universal Credit is owed, may also apply for an advance payment. Budgeting Advances exist to help pay for emergency household costs, for example, buying a new cooker or for help getting a job or staying in work.
There are a range of advance payments that Universal Credit claimants can access. Information surrounding eligibility conditions and how to apply is published online at: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-advances#how-to-apply-for-a-universal-credit-advance
The entirety of the number of advances paid, in Glasgow South West parliamentary constituency since January 2019, is provided in the table below.
Month | Universal Credit advances paid |
January 2019 | 420 |
February 2019 | 590 |
March 2019 | 520 |
April 2019 | 510 |
May 2019 | 450 |
June 2019 | 550 |
July 2019 | 510 |
August 2019 | 510 |
Notes
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government has taken to improve digital access for jobcentre customers in areas previously served by Parkhead Jobcentre.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Customers previously served by Easterhouse and Parkhead Jobcentres are now served by Shettleston Jobcentre. A number of activities have been undertaken in Shettleston Jobcentre to improve digital access for customers including:
In addition, Shettleston Jobcentre has a number of partners located within the office to provide supplementary support to customers. This includes:
All MPs are encouraged to visit and engage with their local Jobcentres and the Service Leaders to keep up to date with innovations.
Asked by: David Linden (Scottish National Party - Glasgow East)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Government has taken to improve digital access for jobcentre customers in areas previously served by Easterhouse Jobcentre.
Answered by Mims Davies - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Customers previously served by Easterhouse and Parkhead Jobcentres are now served by Shettleston Jobcentre. A number of activities have been undertaken in Shettleston Jobcentre to improve digital access for customers including:
In addition, Shettleston Jobcentre has a number of partners located within the office to provide supplementary support to customers. This includes:
All MPs are encouraged to visit and engage with their local Jobcentres and the Service Leaders to keep up to date with innovations.