The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the proportion of employment and support allowance claims processed within (a) 10, (b) 20, (c) 30, (d) 40, (e) 60 and (f) more than 60 working days.
Esther McVey
The information requested is not available.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tom Clarke on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will create an independent panel to review and assess the effectiveness of the employment and support allowance and work capability assessment tests.
Mike Penning
The department has already conducted four independent reviews of the WCA, the most recent of which was completed on 12 December 2013 and is published online at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-capability-assessment-independent-review-year-4
A fifth and final independent review is currently underway and is due to be completed by the end of the year.
In addition to these independent reviews the Department has conducted an Evidence Based Review of the WCA in which the descriptors for mental health and fluctuating conditions were examined by an independent panel against an alternative assessment designed in conjunction with representative groups and charities. On 12 December 2013 the Department published the results of this online at the following address: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-capability-assessment-evidence-based-review
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make it his policy to collect data on work capability assessment outcomes for people diagnosed with fibromyalgia; and if he will estimate the cost of collecting such data.
Mike Penning
The Department does collect some data on Work Capability Assessment (WCA) outcomes for people diagnosed with fibromyalgia but it is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will take steps to ensure that jobseekers whose jobseeker’s allowance claim is cancelled are informed with greater clarity that their housing benefit will also be cancelled as a result.
Esther McVey
When a Jobseeker’s Allowance claim is terminated, the claimant is issued with an end of award notice. This notification informs the claimant that they need to contact their Local Authority if they have a claim to Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit.
Over and above this, Jobcentre Plus guidance is being strengthened to stress the importance of advising claimants to contact their Local Authority if they have a claim to Housing Benefit and/or Council Tax Benefit and their claim is terminated, sanctioned or disallowed.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance he gives to jobcentre staff on informing jobseekers of cancellation of their jobseeker’s allowance claim.
Esther McVey
All jobcentre staff have access to comprehensive and clear procedures, guidance and learning which equips them to advise customers appropriately
Additionally, everyone claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance is provided with information about the conditions under which it is paid and the potential consequences of not complying. Where a doubt is identified and the case is to be referred to a decision maker, this is explained to the claimant and information provided about what will happen next.
If a sanction or disallowance is applied or the Jobseeker’s Allowance claim is cancelled, the claimant is notified of this in writing.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will provide additional support to jobseekers whose jobseeker’s allowance is sanctioned because they experience a series of short illnesses.
Esther McVey
Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) is a benefit for people that are available for, and actively seeking employment. It allows for two separate periods of sickness of up to 14 days within a 12 month period. Work Coaches take individual circumstances, including health into account when agreeing a Claimant Commitment. Claimants that are unable to meet their conditionality because of sickness can be signposted to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Roger Godsiff on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his policy is on whether jobseekers whose jobseeker’s allowance claim is cancelled because they experience three periods of illness in one year must be informed of this by jobcentre staff.
Esther McVey
Legislation prescribes the circumstances where a person can remain on Jobseeker’s Allowance where they suffer a period of sickness. Where someone declares a period of sickness that falls outside these circumstances, they are informed of their options, e.g. claiming Employment Support Allowance and how to re-claim Jobseeker’s Allowance as and when appropriate. Once a claim to JSA is terminated, the claimant receives a formal notification to this effect.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Jones on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of the extension of the shared accommodation rate to people under the age of 35 years.
Steve Webb
The final research outputs from DWP’s independent evaluation of the changes to the Local Housing Allowance are due to be published this summer. The research will cover the impact of extending the age threshold for the Shared Accommodation Rate.
The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of universal credit claims made in pilot areas have been based on independent self-assessment.
Esther McVey
We have interpreted the question as the proportion of people who assess their own eligibility for UC via the on-line self assessment tool.
https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/entitlement
The Department does not collect this data
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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Frank Field on 2014-06-12.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the waiting period will be before an individual qualifies for support through universal credit; and how long he expects it will take to calculate entitlement and process new claims for universal credit.
Esther McVey
The Chancellor announced in the 2013 Spending Review that a seven day waiting period is to be introduced into Universal Credit from April 2015.
Each claim for UC is assigned an assessment period. The payment due date is a fixed day of the month that falls 7 days after the end of the assessment period and on the same day of each subsequent month. Entitlement will be assessed so that payment should arrive in the claimant’s bank account on or before the payment due date.
If any claimant is in need of support during this time they are eligible to apply for a UC Advance (New Claim).