Every parliamentary written question tabled by Helen Whately this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 161–180 of 252 · Department for Work and Pensions
How many Personal Independence Payment claimants received vehicles through the Motability Scheme in each month since July 2024.
DWP holds no data on the number of PIP claimants that have an active Motability Scheme contract at a given time. Vehicle receipt is handled by Motability Operations Ltd.
How many work coaches there are per (a) capita and (b) Universal Credit claimant in (i) England and (ii) each region.
The requested work coach data for England has been provided at district level. Pure English regional data is unavailable as some English regions are combined with Scotland and Wales for Universal Credit administration purposes. Information on numbers of Universal Credit claimants by region can be obtained from DWP’s Stat Xplore tool Stat XPlore Population estimates are published by the Office for National Statistics and can be found at Population estimates - Office for National Statistics ENGLAND DISTRICTSFTEAVON, SOMERSET & GLOUCESTERSHIRE400BERKSHIRE, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE & OXFORDSHIRE390BIRMINGHAM & SOLIHULL710BLACK COUNTRY & COVENTRY620CHESHIRE & LANCASHIRE580CUMBRIA & TEES300DEVON & CORNWALL340DORSET WILTSHIRE HAMPSHIRE & ISLE OF WIGHT660EAST LONDON860EAST MIDLANDS550ESSEX400GREATER MANCHESTER960HERTFORDSHIRE210KENT420LEICESTERSHIRE, CAMBRIDGESHIRE & RUTLAND440MERSEYSIDE450NORFOLK & SUFFOLK320NORTH & MID WALES AND THE MARCHES130NORTH EAST YORKSHIRE & LINCOLNSHIRE520NORTH LONDON640NORTHUMBERLAND, DURHAM, TYNE & WEAR500SOUTH LONDON900SOUTH MIDLANDS450SOUTH YORKSHIRE380SURREY & SUSSEX500THE SHIRES500WEST LONDON850WEST YORKSHIRE760ENGLAND TOTAL14,730 Notes:Work Coach Full Time Equivalent (FTE) data supplied is from September 2025.The number of Work Coaches has been derived from DWP's Activity Based Model (ABM). This model gives an estimated FTE based on a point in time estimate by Line Managers, as recorded on our internal systems each month.Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 FTE.The number of Work Coaches refers to staff involved in conducting regular engagement with claimants, hence the data does not include Work Coach Team Leaders or Disability Employment Advisers.Work coaches include both UC Full-Service Work Coaches and Existing Benefits Work Coaches.The number of staff employed is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal departmental use and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standard.
How many PIP claims were (a) withdrawn before submitting a PIP2 form, (b) disallowed due to failure to return the PIP2 form, (c) withdrawn after submitting a PIP2 form but before assessment, (d) disallowed due to failure to attend an assessment and (e) (i) closed and (ii) withdrawn for other reasons prior to a decision in each of the last five financial years by intended mode of assessment.
Information on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) outcomes for the last five financial years is shown in table 1 below. Table 1: Volume of PIP claims by assessment outcomes for the last five financial years.Outcome TypeFinancial Years2020-212021-222022-232023-242024-25Disallowed pre-referral to AP (Assessment Provider)5,5007,1009,7009,20011,700Disallowed pre referral to AP due to non-return of PIP266,50085,50069,70073,80096,000Disallowed pre-referral to AP due to failure to attend4,0006,40019,10019,60018,900Withdrawn at any stage9,10011,20015,70018,10022,300 Notes:Figures are for England and Wales only.Figures only include claims made under normal rules.Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100.AP is the assessment provider.These are the categories available in the PIP administrative data. The Department does not hold data on intended modes of assessments.
How many and what proportion of investigations into benefit fraud result in (a) financial penalties and (b) court convictions.
DWP takes all allegations of fraud seriously, irrespective of reporting method, and will take appropriate action on those cases where there is concern about entitlement. For regional fraud investigations, conviction data is not currently available for 24/25. There were however 639 prosecutions* (6% of investigations) and 272 Administrative Penalties (3% of investigations) issued. For serious and economic crime investigations concluded in fiscal year 24/25, there were 26 such convictions** (7% of investigations) and 1 Administrative Penalty (0% of investigations). Across all fraud investigations concluded in 24/25, 2191 cases had their benefit corrected and 8075 cases resulted in no change. * Prosecutions refer to cases where the prosecuting authority (Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales, Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) have reviewed the case and have deemed the case suitable for prosecution. ** Please note that due to the length of time to bring a prosecution to conclusion, these conviction numbers will relate to cases commenced in previous years.
How many and what proportion of investigations into benefit fraud result find no wrongdoing.
DWP takes all allegations of fraud seriously, irrespective of reporting method, and will take appropriate action on those cases where there is concern about entitlement. For regional fraud investigations, conviction data is not currently available for 24/25. There were however 639 prosecutions* (6% of investigations) and 272 Administrative Penalties (3% of investigations) issued. For serious and economic crime investigations concluded in fiscal year 24/25, there were 26 such convictions** (7% of investigations) and 1 Administrative Penalty (0% of investigations). Across all fraud investigations concluded in 24/25, 2191 cases had their benefit corrected and 8075 cases resulted in no change. * Prosecutions refer to cases where the prosecuting authority (Crown Prosecution Service in England and Wales, Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) have reviewed the case and have deemed the case suitable for prosecution. ** Please note that due to the length of time to bring a prosecution to conclusion, these conviction numbers will relate to cases commenced in previous years.
What the average waiting time was for the processing of Universal Credit advances in the most recent period for which data is available.
We do not collect data on advance payment processing times.
What the average waiting time was for the processing of State Pension underpayment corrections in the most recent period for which data is available.
We do not hold information regarding average waiting times to process State Pension underpayments corrections and to produce it would incur disproportionate costs.
What the average waiting time was for the processing of Access to Work applications in the most recent period for which data is available.
From April 2025 to August 2025 the average waiting time for the processing of Access to Work applications was 94.9 days and it was 93.6 day for the most recent month of August 2025. While we aim to make payments within 20 working days of receipt of all correctly completed claim forms and all required supporting evidence, unfortunately this is not always possible. To protect employment opportunities, case managers prioritise Access to Work applications where the customer is due to start a job within four weeks, or cases that are up for renewal. To support our customers several measures have already been put in place, including streamlining our delivery processes and recruiting additional staff.
How many Universal Credit claimants have not attended a Jobcentre in person since the start of their claim in each of the last five years.
The information requested is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost to develop the appropriate code and analyse the raw data.
What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Universal Credit online journal as a substitute for face-to-face engagement with claimants.
The UC service is designed as a digital-first platform, with the online journal serving as a central communication tool between claimants and DWP. It enables claimants to successfully and securely:Receive appointment reminders and mandatory updates.Communicate with Work Coaches and case managers.Manage their responsibilities and maintain entitlement.The Journal is a digital channel which helps two-way communications between claimants and DWP, however it was never intended to and does not replace face-to-face appointments. Claimants have a range of channels available to them, and can mostly use their preference, unless the activity mandates a particular option.
How many and what proportion of Universal Credit claims are managed exclusively through the online journal without in-person Jobcentre visits.
The information requested is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost to develop the appropriate code and analyse the raw data.
How many Universal Credit claimants have not attended in-person appointments at Jobcentres in the last (a) three, (b) six and (c) twelve months.
The information requested is not held centrally and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost to develop the appropriate code and analyse the raw data.
How many non-UK nationals claiming Universal Credit are affected by the two-child limit.
Statistics about the policy that provides support for a maximum of 2 children in Universal Credit are published annually. The latest publication is available here: Universal Credit claimants statistics on the two child limit policy, April 2025 - GOV.UK
Whether her Department has targets for employing more staff to carry out face-to-face assessments.
As outlined in the Pathways to Work Green Paper, we are planning to increase the number of face-to-face health assessments. At the same time, we remain committed to offering alternative assessment channels to accommodate individuals who require a different approach, such as those needing reasonable adjustments. All assessment suppliers have contractual requirements to increase the proportion of assessments conducted face-to-face. To meet these requirements, suppliers are expected to plan and manage recruitment accordingly with progress regularly reviewed. The department is working closely with suppliers to explore ways to boost capacity for face-to-face assessments. A key focus is increasing the recruitment of suitably qualified health professionals to support delivery in assessment centres. Suppliers continue to develop and implement strategies to enhance recruitment, training, and retention, ensuring that skilled staff are in place to support claimants effectively.
How many non-UK nationals claiming Universal Credit have (a) three, (b) four, (c) five, (d) six (e) seven and (f) eight or more children in their household.
The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.
How many additional staff have been employed to carry out face-to-face PIP assessments since July 2024.
The number of additional health professionals (HPs) employed to conduct face-to-face Personal Independence Payments (PIP) assessments is not held. This is because the data cannot be split to show the HPs recruited to deliver a specific type of assessment and the majority of the suppliers have multi-skilled HPs who deliver across multiple channels.
How many face-to-face PIP assessments have taken place since July 2024, broken down by month.
The number of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) face-to-face assessments carried out each month from July 2024 to August 2025 can be found in the table below. MonthFace-to-FaceJul-246,000Aug-243,000Sep-241,000Oct-243,000Nov-244,000Dec-243,000Jan-254,000Feb-254,000Mar-254,000Apr-254,000May-254,000Jun-255,000Jul-255,000Aug-254,000 Please Note All volumes have been rounded to the nearest 1000.All the above data is derived from contractual management information produced by the assessment suppliers.The above data is derived from unpublished management information which is collected for internal departmental use only and has not been quality assured to Official Statistics Publication standards.The dip in September is due to the introduction of the Functional Assessment Service contracts on 9 September 2024. For a brief period, face to face assessments were limited to allow for a smooth transition from the old Health and Disability Assessment Service to the new Health Assessment Advisory Service across the country. The number of PIP face-to-face assessments conducted is not available at a regional level. However, we can provide the information split by Lot. The number of PIP face-to-face assessments carried out by Lot from July 2024 to August 2025 can be found in the table below. Lot 1 - Northern EnglandLot 2 - Midlands & WalesLot 3 - South-WestLot 4 - London, South-East & East AngliaJul-242,0002,0002,000Aug-241,0002,000700Sep-242001,000<100Oct-242002,000100500Nov-241,0001,0003001,000Dec-249001,000200800Jan-251,0001,0003001,000Feb-251,0001,000400900Mar-251,0001,0004001,000Apr-251,0001,0004001,000May-251,0002,000400900Jun-252,0002,0005001,000Jul-252,0002,000600800Aug-251,0001,000500700 Please Note All volumes greater than or equal to 1000 have been rounded to the nearest 1000, all volumes less than 1000 have been rounded to the nearest 100.All the above data is derived from contractual management information produced by the assessment suppliers.The above data is derived from unpublished management information which is collected for internal departmental use only and has not been quality assured to Official Statistics Publication standards.Please note that for the period July- September 2024, Lot 3 and Lot 4 data is combined due to the old contractual reporting structure.
How many face-to-face PIP assessments have been conducted in each region of the UK since July 2024.
The number of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) face-to-face assessments carried out each month from July 2024 to August 2025 can be found in the table below. MonthFace-to-FaceJul-246,000Aug-243,000Sep-241,000Oct-243,000Nov-244,000Dec-243,000Jan-254,000Feb-254,000Mar-254,000Apr-254,000May-254,000Jun-255,000Jul-255,000Aug-254,000 Please Note All volumes have been rounded to the nearest 1000.All the above data is derived from contractual management information produced by the assessment suppliers.The above data is derived from unpublished management information which is collected for internal departmental use only and has not been quality assured to Official Statistics Publication standards.The dip in September is due to the introduction of the Functional Assessment Service contracts on 9 September 2024. For a brief period, face to face assessments were limited to allow for a smooth transition from the old Health and Disability Assessment Service to the new Health Assessment Advisory Service across the country. The number of PIP face-to-face assessments conducted is not available at a regional level. However, we can provide the information split by Lot. The number of PIP face-to-face assessments carried out by Lot from July 2024 to August 2025 can be found in the table below. Lot 1 - Northern EnglandLot 2 - Midlands & WalesLot 3 - South-WestLot 4 - London, South-East & East AngliaJul-242,0002,0002,000Aug-241,0002,000700Sep-242001,000<100Oct-242002,000100500Nov-241,0001,0003001,000Dec-249001,000200800Jan-251,0001,0003001,000Feb-251,0001,000400900Mar-251,0001,0004001,000Apr-251,0001,0004001,000May-251,0002,000400900Jun-252,0002,0005001,000Jul-252,0002,000600800Aug-251,0001,000500700 Please Note All volumes greater than or equal to 1000 have been rounded to the nearest 1000, all volumes less than 1000 have been rounded to the nearest 100.All the above data is derived from contractual management information produced by the assessment suppliers.The above data is derived from unpublished management information which is collected for internal departmental use only and has not been quality assured to Official Statistics Publication standards.Please note that for the period July- September 2024, Lot 3 and Lot 4 data is combined due to the old contractual reporting structure.
How many people had their claim rejected for (a) Universal Credit, (b) the State Pension and (c) other public funds due to having a no recourse to public funds condition in each year since 2020.
Persons subject to immigration control have no recourse to public funds and so cannot access taxpayer-funded benefits such as Universal Credit. Nationals of countries other than the UK and Ireland may have no recourse to public funds because either their immigration status prohibits this or they do not have an immigration status. The table below gives the number of individuals who have been assessed as ineligible for public funds benefit due to being a ‘Person Subject to Immigration Control’, i.e. having No Recourse to Public Funds from April 2022 onwards (data is not held prior to this period). An individual can be a ‘Person Subject to Immigration control’ due to the conditions of their immigration status or because they have no immigration status. Date Decision Entered on Admin SystemNumber of UC HRT ‘Person Subject to Immigration Control’ (i.e. No Recourse to Public Funds) DecisionsApril 2022 to March 202326,000April 2023 to March 202435,000April 2024 to March 202538,000Source: DWP internal analysis of UC Dataworks tables, Rounded to the nearest 1,000 decisions. Equivalent information for non-Universal Credit benefits is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost. The new State Pension is based on National Insurance contributions and payments are not classified as public funds for immigration purposes. Entitlement for any payments of the new State Pension is usually dependent on the individual having a minimum of ten qualifying years of National Insurance when they reach State Pension age.
With reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on 29 April 2025, Official Report, col 236, how many sickfluencers have been prosecuted under the (a) Fraud Act 2006 and (b) Serious Crime Act 2007.
I refer the honourable member to the answer given to PQ 50195 on 12 May 2025.