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  • Andrew Rosindell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Andrew Rosindell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Rosindell on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the benefit cap.

    Esther McVey

    We expect a full evaluation of the policy to be published in autumn 2014.

    Latest figures show that 4,250 households that were previously subject to the benefit cap found jobs since the limit was introduced in April 2013.

    In total, more than 38,600 households had their benefits capped by January 2014

  • Graham Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Graham Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the cost to his Department was of data entry used under universal credit in each quarter since 2010.

    Mike Penning

    There are no dedicated data entry roles and accordingly no cost to the department can be reliably estimated.

  • Graham Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Graham Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many staff his Department has employed in data entry roles relating to universal credit in (a) England, (b) the North West and (c) Lancashire in each quarter since 2010.

    Mike Penning

    There are no dedicated data entry roles and accordingly no cost to the department can be reliably estimated.

  • Graham Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Graham Jones – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what change there has been in his Department’s data entry spending in the last year; and what the reasons are for any such change.

    Mike Penning

    There are no dedicated data entry roles and accordingly no cost to the department can be reliably estimated.

  • Peter Aldous – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Peter Aldous – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Peter Aldous on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent discussions his Department has had (a) with Post Office Ltd and (b) other payment services providers on offering a wider range of payment outlets at which Post Office Card Account customers can access pensions and benefits.

    Steve Webb

    The Post Office Card Account can be accessed at any one of around 11,500 branches across the post office network.

    No discussions have taken place with Post Office Ltd or other payment services providers about offering a wider range of payment outlets and there are currently no plans to extend the number of outlets at which Post Office Card Account customers can access pensions and benefits.

  • Mr Mark Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Mr Mark Williams – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mr Mark Williams on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for how many and what proportion of employment and support allowance claimants in the Work Related Activity Group Atos has sought further medical evidence and opinion from the person’s nominated professional.

    Mike Penning

    The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

  • Jesse Norman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Jesse Norman – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jesse Norman on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to support young people into work.

    Esther McVey

    The Government’s approach is working. For the 21st consecutive month we have seen the youth claimant count reduce.The Youth Contract is successfully providing young people with the support they require, building on support already available via Jobcentres and the Work Programme. Opportunities available to young people include Work Experience, Sector-based WorkAcademies, traineeships and intensive work searches.

  • Tim Loughton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Tim Loughton – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tim Loughton on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the performance of the Innovation Fund to Support Separated Families.

    Steve Webb

    We are funding 17 projects to help and support separated families in various parts of the country and piloting a range of approaches. The schemes conclude by April 2015 after which we will publish a full, independent evaluation.

  • David Rutley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    David Rutley – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by David Rutley on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what changes he plans to make to the ability of EU migrants to access benefits.

    Esther McVey

    We have introduced a range of measures to tighten up our EEA migration rules to ensure our welfare system is not taken advantage of.

    Since December 2013 Migrants have had to take a stronger, more robust Habitual Residence Test if they want to claim income-related benefits.

    From 1 January 2014, EEA job seekers must have been living in the UK for three months before they can claim income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance.

    If they satisfy HRT a new statutory presumption will mean that EEA jobseekers and retained workers will then only be able to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance for six months. After six months, only those who have compelling evidence that they have a genuine prospect of finding work will be able to continue claiming.

    Since the 1 March the Minimum Earnings Threshold is helping to determine whether an EEA national’s previous or current work can be treated as genuine and effective in deciding whether they have a right to reside in the UK as a worker or a self employed person.

    From 1 April 2014 new EEA Jobseekers will be unable to access Housing Benefits even if they are in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance.

  • Mrs Mary Glindon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    Mrs Mary Glindon – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Work and Pensions

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mrs Mary Glindon on 2014-03-25.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants have received the personal independence payment since April 2013.

    Mike Penning

    PIP is a brand new benefit that is replacing the broken DLA system, we published early management information on Tuesday 11 February 2014. Between April and December 2013, around 22,000 new claimants had been given an award of PIP.