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30 Nov 2010 : Column 789W—continued
Employment and Support Allowance
Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) how many people are claiming income-based employment and support allowance; and how many of those people cited a mental health condition as their primary reason for claiming; [24960]
(2) how many people are claiming income-based employment and support allowance in the support
group; and how many of those people cited a mental health condition as their primary reason for claiming; [24961]
(3) how many people are claiming income-based employment and support allowance in the work-related activity group; and how many of those cited a mental health condition as their primary reason for claiming. [24962]
Maria Miller: The information is provided in the following table.
The table firstly shows the full ESA caseload and those in the Work Related and Support Group respectively and then provides the same breakdown for those who have an income-based element to their case.
The table then provides the same breakdowns but for those who fall into the mental and behavioural category.
| Great Britain | |
| Number | |
|
Mental and behavioural category for ESA claimants with an income based element | |
| Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. ESA statistics by medical condition can be found at: http://83.244.183.180/ESA/esa_additional_feb10.xls 3. Benefit type: The type of ESA is defined as pay status at the caseload date-this may differ to the status at the start or end of the claim. 4. Employment and support allowance (ESA) replaced incapacity benefit and income support paid on the grounds of incapacity for new claims from 27 October 2008 5. Stage of ESA claim: The stage of claim is derived from the amount of payment a claimant receives. There are a number of cases where the stage is unknown, these are claimants which do not receive any payment for ESA (those who receive national insurance credits only). 6. ICD (disease) code Causes of incapacity are based on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision published by the World Health Organisation. Medical condition is based on evidence provided at the start of the claim, this in itself does not confer entitlement to employment support allowance and may not represent a claimant's most recent medical condition. For ESA claimants, data on medical condition are only available from February 2010 onwards. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100% | |
Mr Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what progress his Department has made on reviewing the work capability assessment for employment and support allowance. [25430]
Chris Grayling: The Welfare Reform Act 2007 commits the Government to commissioning an independent review of the work capability assessment (WCA) annually for the first five years of its operation.
Professor Malcolm Harrington reviewed the fairness and effectiveness of the assessment. His review, published on 23 November, found that the WCA is the right process, but that improvements could be made. The review set out a substantial series of recommendations which the Government fully accepted on the same day. As a result we will:
Improve the capability and confidence of Decision Makers in Jobcentre Plus;
Put in place 'champions' with additional expertise in mental, cognitive and intellectual conditions in each Atos Medical Examination Centre; and
Make the WCA a more compassionate process.
In addition to the independent reviews, the Department also carried out a Department-led review which was published in March 2010. This review consulted closely with medical and other experts and disability organisations
and made a series of recommendations for improving the WCA. We intend to introduce these changes in spring 2011, ahead of the reassessment of incapacity benefits claimants.
Housing Benefit
Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate he has made of the number of individuals in households in which at least one member works for at least 16 hours per week who will (a) have their income reduced and (b) fall below the equivalised poverty threshold of 60 per cent. of median household income as a result of proposed changes to council tax benefit; and what the average amount is by which the income of affected households will be reduced as a result of that measure; [21912]
(2) what his most recent estimate is of the number of individuals in households in which at least one member works for at least 16 hours per week who will (a) have their income reduced and (b) fall below the equivalised poverty threshold of 60 per cent. of median household income as a result of his proposal to cap local housing allowance rates; and what the average amount is by which the income of affected households will be reduced as a result of that measure; [21916]
(3) what estimate he has made of the number of individuals in households in which at least one member works for at least 16 hours per week who will (a) have their income reduced and (b) fall below the equivalised poverty threshold of 60 per cent. of median household income as a result of uprating the local housing allowance rates with reference to the consumer prices index from 2013-14; and what the average amount is by which the income of those households will be reduced as a result of that measure; [21920]
(4) what estimate he has made of the number of individuals in households in which at least one member works for at least 16 hours per week who will (a) have their income reduced and (b) fall below the equivalised poverty threshold of 60 per cent. of median household income as a result of setting reduced local housing allowance rates at the 30th percentile of local rents; and what the average amount is by which the income of affected households will be reduced as a result of that measure; [21921]
(5) what estimate he has made of the number of individuals in households in which at least one member works for at least 16 hours per week who will (a) have their income reduced and (b) fall below the equivalised poverty threshold of 60 per cent. of median household income as a result of removing the five-bedroom local housing allowance rate; and what the average amount is by which the income of affected households will be reduced as a result of that measure. [21922]
Steve Webb: The information requested is not available and could be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
The Department published a document on "Impacts of Housing Benefit proposals: Changes to the Local Housing Allowance to be introduced in 2011-12" and a separate equality impact assessment on the 23 July. A copy of the documents has been placed in the Library.
The Department will publish full impact assessments for the proposed measures, in the normal way, when it lays the relevant legislation.
Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what consultation he undertook with representative organisations in developing his proposals for changes to housing benefit. [22127]
Steve Webb: The Department has consulted with organisations representing local authorities, in accordance with its statutory responsibility, before making regulations in respect of changes to housing benefit.
In addition, Ministers and officials in DWP have met representatives from a wide range of organisations with an interest in housing benefit to discuss the reforms.
Mr Douglas Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the monetary value of non-dependent deductions in housing benefit (a) prior to the June 2010 Budget and (b) in each year of the current Parliament. [24774]
Steve Webb: The amount of the deduction applied to awards of housing benefit in respect of non- dependants depends upon the circumstances of the non-dependant, such as their gross earnings. The current weekly values of the non-dependant deduction rates in housing benefit are as follows:
| Earnings band | Non-dependant deduction rate (£) |
| (1) Others: Age 25 or over and on income support/jobseeker's allowance (income-based) Age 18 or over and not in remunerative work In receipt of main phase employment and support allowance (income-related). | |
The non-dependant deduction rates that will apply from 2011-12 and future years have not yet been announced. The increased rates from 2011-12 will be included in the statement on uprating to be given to Parliament shortly and confirmed by way of legislation in the annual benefit uprating order. Implementation will be part of the Department's and local authorities' annual uprating exercises.
Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of (a) new housing benefit claims made to each local authority were dealt with within 25 days and (b) changed housing benefit claims were dealt with within 10 days in the last 12 months; what the average cost to the public purse of each transaction was; and how much on average was paid out. [26982]
Steve Webb: The requested information on claims dealt with within 25 days, and change of circumstances dealt with within 10 days has been placed in the Library.
The average cost of each of these transactions is not available.
The average amount paid out for these transactions is not available.
Housing Benefit: Further Education
Stephen Mosley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the merits of changing eligibility for housing benefit to include individuals undertaking full-time further education courses. [20496]
Steve Webb: Financial support for students comes from the education system. Housing benefit is not normally available to people who are undertaking a course of full-time education. There are some exceptions, which include people with disabilities and lone parents with dependent children. Young people under age 21 may also get housing benefit if they are undertaking a course of non-advanced or further education which they commenced before the age of 19. We have no plans to change those rules.
Housing Benefit: Private Rented Housing
Gordon Henderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will consider the merits of amending rules governing the payment of local housing allowance to ensure that it is paid directly to private landlords. [25898]
Steve Webb: Although housing benefit is normally paid to the tenant under the local housing allowance arrangements, there are safeguards in place for tenants who are unable or unlikely to manage their rental payments.
We are conducting a review of the first two years' operation of the local housing allowance to monitor its impact at a national level within the limitations of the available administration data and research. The review aims to cover a range of issues that are likely to be of interest to landlords, including direct payment to tenants and the operation of the safeguards for tenants who are unable or unlikely to manage their rental payments. An in-depth focus group study of landlords concerning their attitudes to, and experiences of, the local housing allowance scheme will be included. The review is due to report in the later in the year. However, we have no plans to return to a system where tenants can simply choose to have their benefit paid to the landlord.
Housing Benefit: Vulnerable Adults
Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to the answer of 22 July 2010, Official Report, column 553W, on housing benefit: vulnerable adults, what practical support for local authorities and welfare advisers he plans to provide to ensure that a comprehensive and consistent communication strategy is developed for people in receipt of housing benefit who may face a reduction in entitlement. [27675]
Steve Webb:
The Government have in place a comprehensive programme of support including the provision of new guidance, best practice on discretionary housing payments as well as printed and electronic
communications products. The Department for Work and Pensions will continue to provide an e-mail and telephone support service for local authorities and other stakeholders.
Housing Benefit: Womens Aid
Fiona O'Donnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the effect on local authority funding of women's aid projects of changes to housing benefit. [26884]
Steve Webb [holding answer 29 November 2010]: Most of the proposed changes to housing benefit affect people in the private rented sector whose housing benefit is assessed under the local housing allowance. Housing benefit for those who live in hostels and in supported accommodation within the social and voluntary sector is not normally assessed under local housing allowance rules and is unlikely to be affected by these changes.
Other changes to housing benefit that impact on both the private and social rented sectors such as increases to non-dependant deductions and restricting benefit where occupants are living in accommodation that is larger than they need are also unlikely to affect people in women's aid projects. The change that may have an effect is the 10% reduction in housing benefit where a person has been in receipt of jobseeker's allowance for over twelve months. This change takes affect from April 2013. We shall publish an impact assessment on the proposed measure to accompany the relevant legislation when introduced in Parliament.
Housing: Rent
Stella Creasy: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate his Department has made of the availability of housing in each London borough with (a) four bedrooms which can be rented at a cost at or below the proposed £400 per week housing benefit cap, (b) three bedrooms which can be rented at a cost at or below the proposed £340 per week housing benefit cap and (c) two bedrooms which can be rented at a cost at or below the proposed £290 per week benefit cap. [26471]
Steve Webb: The Department published a document on "Impacts of Housing Benefit proposals: Changes to the Local Housing Allowance to be introduced in 2011-12" on 23 July, which includes breakdowns at the local authority level and an assessment of the impact on availability of accommodation. A copy of the document has been placed in the Library.
Incapacity Benefit
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals against decisions to disallow incapacity benefit there have been in each year since it was introduced in 1995; and how many were decided in favour of the appellant. [25596]
Maria Miller: The information requested is not available, and can be provided only at a disproportionate cost.
Invalid Vehicles
Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people who will have their entitlement to a motability car withdrawn in the 2010-11 financial year; and if he will make a statement. [25163]
Maria Miller: Eligibility to the Motability scheme is dependent on a person being paid the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance (DLA). Motability vehicles may be withdrawn where a person ceases to be entitled to the higher rate mobility component of DLA either because they cease to satisfy the conditions of entitlement for that component or the eligible person dies. No estimate has been made of the number of such people in the current financial year.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Mrs Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether he plans to take steps to assist those claiming support for mortgage interest whose mortgage interest rate is substantially higher than the standard interest rate used to calculate support payments. [19021]
Steve Webb: One of the reasons for the introduction of the standard interest rate in 1995 was that the actual interest rates met under the previous system were sometimes excessive. The policy intention is not that support for mortgage interest should meet high interest rates. It is important that only reasonable costs are met, in order to protect the taxpayer.
When the amount provided through benefit is less than the lender's rate charged on the loan, the responsibility lies with the claimant, working together with the lender, to meet any shortfall in payments.
The Government will continue to explore with mortgage lenders the scope for them to "freeze" benefit claimants' mortgage accounts and apply a standard interest rate for a fixed period. In the meantime, the Government will continue to work closely with lenders and debt advice agencies to ensure that repossession is only ever a last resort, and expects to see lenders continuing to offer support and forbearance to their customers who are struggling with their mortgage.
MRI Scans
Jim Fitzpatrick: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what steps his Department has taken to implement the provisions of EU Directive 2004/40/EC as amended; and whether the directive will affect the use of MRI scans before neurological operations such as microvascular decompression for the treatment of trigeminal neuralgia. [25518]
Chris Grayling: The implementation of Directive 2004/40/EC has been delayed for precisely this issue. A legislative proposal to amend the directive is expected from the European Commission shortly and the Government will seek to ensure the revised directive does not adversely affect the use of MRI scans.
Pensions: Consumer Price Index
Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what methodology he used to determine his policy on the use of the consumer prices index as a measure of inflation in respect of pensions. [27685]
Steve Webb: The decision to use the consumer prices index (CPI) as the measure of inflation for indexation of benefits and pensions was taken in light of relevant factors, including the profile of price inflation indices and their features, and taken within the wider fiscal context.
An example of a feature which led us to decide that the CPI was a better reflection of pensioners' inflationary experience was the fact that the retail prices index includes mortgage interest payments. Mortgage interest payments are not relevant to the majority of pensioners, of whom only 7% have a mortgage.
Social Security Benefits
Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much of the £2.1 billion funding for the implementation of universal credit will be allocated to IT development. [25158]
Chris Grayling: Plans for the implementation of universal credit are still in development and details will be set out in due course.
Social Security Benefits: Social Rented Housing
Ms Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions whether households in social housing where rents are set at 80% of market rents will be affected by the proposed upper limit on benefits entitlement. [25094]
Steve Webb: The current assumption is that the upper limit on benefit entitlement will apply to all housing benefit recipients, including those in the social sector whose rents have been set at 80% of market rents. However, those households who receive disability living allowance and working tax credit will not be subject to the overall limit.
State Retirement Pensions
Mr Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people are in receipt of total state pension payments of (a) less than £50, (b) less than £100, (c) less than £150, (d) less than £200 and (e) more than £200 per week. [25669]
Steve Webb: The information is in the following table.
| Number of state pension recipients by total weekly payment | ||||||
| All payments | Less than £50 | Less than £100 | Less than £150 | Less than £200 | £200 and over | |
| Notes: 1. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Total weekly payment includes: (i) basic State Pension, net additional pension (SERPS and State Second Pension) and Graduated Retirement Benefit; (ii) age addition and dependency increases; and (iii) increments. Source: DWP Information Directorate: Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study, as at May 2010 | ||||||
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