DWP's response to the coronavirus outbreak Contents

Contents

Summary

Universal Credit

Legacy benefits

People with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)

The benefit cap

Health assessments for benefit claims

Special Rules for Terminal Illness

Self-employment

Analysis and impact assessment

Recognising the contribution of DWP staff

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

Pensions

Employment support

1 Introduction

Our inquiry

2 Universal Credit

The impact of Coronavirus on Universal Credit claims

DWP’s response to the volume of new claims

Experiences of the application and identity verification process

Advance payments

Numbers of Advance payments

Suspension of Advance repayments

Moving from legacy benefits to Universal Credit: unintended consequences

Entitlement to transitional protection

3 Legacy benefits

Impact of coronavirus

4 People with no recourse to public funds

How many people have NRPF?

The impact of NRPF

What support is available for people with NRPF?

5 The benefit cap

Background

The benefit cap and Universal Credit uprating

The benefit cap and Local Housing Allowance rates

The Department’s response

The benefit cap and deduction rates

6 Health assessments for benefit claims

Introduction

The challenge of providing medical evidence

Delays in processing claims

Claims started before the outbreak

Appeals and mandatory reconsiderations begun before the coronavirus outbreak

Extension of tribunal awards

Changing numbers of claims

Audio-recording assessments

Accessible communications

Lessons for the future

7 Special Rules for Terminal Illness

Claims under the Special Rules for Terminal illness during the coronavirus outbreak

Timeliness of claims under the Special Rules for Terminal Illness

Review of Special Rules for Terminal Illness

8 Self-employment

Suspension of the Minimum Income Floor in Universal Credit

Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS)

Interaction of SEISS payments and Universal Credit

The £16,000 capital limit

Surplus earnings rule

Self-employed status

9 Analysis and impact assessment

10 Recognising the contribution of DWP staff

Remote working

Safety of DWP staff at work

Rewarding and recognising staff

11 The Health and Safety Executive

The Health and Safety Executive and the coronavirus pandemic

HSE response to Covid-19 concerns

Coronavirus risk assessment procedures and spot checks

HSE funding

Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences

12 Pensions

Auto-enrolment requirements

Policy background

The Pensions Regulator’s guidance for employers responding to Covid-19

Employees opting-out of auto-enrolment

Defined benefit pension schemes

Background

Schemes in deficit

Protecting savers

Defined Contribution Schemes

Pension scams

Defined benefit transfers

13 Employment support

Impact of coronavirus

Putting programmes in place

Flexible Support Fund

A jobs guarantee

Working with other stakeholders

Conclusions and recommendations

Formal minutes

Witnesses

Published written evidence




Published: 22 June 2020