Written questions by McMurdock.

What assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Fraud, Error and Debt Bill on the (a) mental health and (b) wellbeing of (i) benefit claimants with (A) disabilities and (B) long-term illnesses and (ii) other benefit claimants.

Safeguarding vulnerable claimants is always a priority. All the powers included in the Fraud, Error and Debt Bill will include strong safeguards to ensure they are only used appropriately and proportionately – including new independent oversight and reporting mechanisms. The Bill will be clearly defined in its scope and there will be clear limitations for the use of all the powers we are introducing. DWP staff will receive training on the use of any new powers. We will rely on Codes of Practice where they already exist and, where they do not, we will consult on and produce new Codes of Practice to provide further reassurance on the safe use of the powers.

What steps her Department plans to take to monitor the use of powers granting her Department's investigators access to benefit claimants’ bank accounts.

Fraud and error in the social security system currently costs the taxpayer almost £10 billion a year and, since the pandemic, a total of £35 billion of taxpayers’ money has been incorrectly paid to those not entitled. We are determined to reduce those levels. As set out by the National Audit Office, access to data is key to prevention and detection of incorrect payments. The Eligibility Verification Measure (EVM) in the proposed Fraud, Error and Debt Bill will not give DWP access to any bank accounts, nor any information on how claimants spend their money. It will require banks and financial institutions to share limited information with the DWP to help verify benefit eligibility by flagging possible conflicts with eligibility rules – for example the £16,000 capital limit in Universal Credit. The information gathered will help DWP identify incorrect payments, prevent debts from accruing for the claimant and help identify where there may be fraudulent activity. The legislation will set out key safeguards, including reporting mechanisms and independent oversight. No benefit entitlement decision will be made solely because of the data obtained under EVM and a final decision on benefit entitlement will always involve a human agent. If a claimant wishes to challenge or appeal a benefit decision, they can do so following DWP's appeals processes. Further details will be set out when the Bill is introduced to Parliament.

What assessment her Department has made of the compatibility of plans to access to benefit claimants' bank accounts with existing (a) data protection restrictions and (b) human rights privacy rights.

The Eligibility Verification Measure will not give DWP access to any bank accounts, nor any information as to what claimants spend their money on. The proposed new power instead helps verify benefit eligibility, using very limited information from banks and other financial institutions DWP will ensure that any data is processed and held in compliance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. The Department routinely handles large volumes of data and has robust security processes in place to manage this. The department will conduct a Data Protection Impact Assessment at the appropriate time. DWP will also ensure that any interference with the rights to private life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights is justified as in accordance with the law and proportionate

What assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of alternative methods to reduce fraud and error in the benefits system that would not involve granting her Department's investigators access to claimants’ bank accounts.

Fraud and error in the social security system currently costs the taxpayer almost £10 billion a year and, since the pandemic, a total of £35 billion of taxpayers’ money has been incorrectly paid to those not entitled to the money. This Government will reduce these levels to stop those looking to defraud the system and reduce the risk of individuals building up large overpayments. The Eligibility Verification Measure, which will allow banks and financial institutions to share limited information with the DWP to help verify benefit eligibility, has been proposed after extensive consideration and policy development as the most effective way to prevent incorrect payments and crucially, help prevent debts accruing for claimants. As the National Audit Office pointed out, access to data is key to prevention and detection of incorrect payments. The Eligibility Verification Measure will not give DWP powers to access anyone’s bank accounts, nor any information on how claimants spend their money. Claimants fulfilling their responsibilities by promptly and accurately reporting any changes in their circumstances will not be impacted by these changes. We will ensure that these powers are proportionate by setting out key safeguards, reporting mechanisms and independent oversight, to give greater confidence to claimants that the powers are being used fairly and effectively. We will rely on Codes of Practice where they already exist and, where they do not, we will consult on and produce new Codes of Practice to provide further reassurance on the safe use of the powers. Further details will be set out when the Bill is introduced to Parliament.

What steps her Department plans to take to allow benefit claimants to challenge or appeal decisions made based on scrutiny of their bank accounts.

Fraud and error in the social security system currently costs the taxpayer almost £10 billion a year and, since the pandemic, a total of £35 billion of taxpayers’ money has been incorrectly paid to those not entitled. We are determined to reduce those levels. As set out by the National Audit Office, access to data is key to prevention and detection of incorrect payments. The Eligibility Verification Measure (EVM) in the proposed Fraud, Error and Debt Bill will not give DWP access to any bank accounts, nor any information on how claimants spend their money. It will require banks and financial institutions to share limited information with the DWP to help verify benefit eligibility by flagging possible conflicts with eligibility rules – for example the £16,000 capital limit in Universal Credit. The information gathered will help DWP identify incorrect payments, prevent debts from accruing for the claimant and help identify where there may be fraudulent activity. The legislation will set out key safeguards, including reporting mechanisms and independent oversight. No benefit entitlement decision will be made solely because of the data obtained under EVM and a final decision on benefit entitlement will always involve a human agent. If a claimant wishes to challenge or appeal a benefit decision, they can do so following DWP's appeals processes. Further details will be set out when the Bill is introduced to Parliament.

How data collected from benefit claimants’ bank accounts will be used to inform decisions about (a) fraud, (b) eligibility and (c) compliance.

Fraud and error in the social security system currently costs the taxpayer almost £10 billion a year and, since the pandemic, a total of £35 billion of taxpayers’ money has been incorrectly paid to those not entitled. We are determined to reduce those levels. As set out by the National Audit Office, access to data is key to prevention and detection of incorrect payments. The Eligibility Verification Measure (EVM) in the proposed Fraud, Error and Debt Bill will not give DWP access to any bank accounts, nor any information on how claimants spend their money. It will require banks and financial institutions to share limited information with the DWP to help verify benefit eligibility by flagging possible conflicts with eligibility rules – for example the £16,000 capital limit in Universal Credit. The information gathered will help DWP identify incorrect payments, prevent debts from accruing for the claimant and help identify where there may be fraudulent activity. The legislation will set out key safeguards, including reporting mechanisms and independent oversight. No benefit entitlement decision will be made solely because of the data obtained under EVM and a final decision on benefit entitlement will always involve a human agent. If a claimant wishes to challenge or appeal a benefit decision, they can do so following DWP's appeals processes. Further details will be set out when the Bill is introduced to Parliament.

What steps her Department plans to take to ensure that her proposed policy of accessing benefit claimants' bank accounts does not disproportionately impact (a) people with disabilities and (b) other vulnerable groups.

The Eligibility Verification measure will not give DWP access to any bank accounts, nor any information on how claimants spend their money. The proposed new power instead helps verify benefit eligibility, using very limited information from banks and other financial institutions.DWP has existing safeguards in place to support our most vulnerable claimants and under the Public Sector Equality Duty, the impacts of this policy will continue to be monitored to mitigate any potential unintended, negative consequences.

What steps her Department is taking to help reduce the unemployment rate in Essex.

Both Basildon and Grays Jobcentres serve the South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency. Both Jobcentres collaborate with employers and providers to resolve recruitment needs, focusing on overcoming common barriers. Solutions include tailored Sector Based Work Academy Programmes, organising recruitment events themed by sector and claimant group, and innovative Movement to Work placements. Both Jobcentres also deliver claimant information sessions, covering topics such as childcare costs, various labour market sectors, 50PLUS Mid-Life MOTs, CV and job application support, and interview preparation. Basildon Jobcentre are delivering a youth customer forum to encourage their younger customers into work. This is designed to be a provider-led programme to support customers with mental health challenges, as this was their main barrier to employment. Basildon Jobcentre, Basildon Council, and Essex County Council also recently collaborated to deliver Spectrum, a neurodivergent wellbeing and recruitment event. Among other partners, the local NHS Trust attended the event and is now planning to replicate and deliver similar events across other boroughs. DWP and Thurrock Council will deliver a variation of this event in early 2025 for Grays’ neurodivergent constituents. Basildon Jobcentre and Basildon Council co-delivered activities for their recent Apprenticeship Day and following its success, both are planning to co-deliver a season recruitment event. Pathways, Basildon Council’s community employment support hub, are committed to delivering monthly recruitment and training events.

What discussions she has had with local authorities on tackling youth unemployment in South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.

The forthcoming Youth Guarantee is testament to our commitment to do more to help young people achieve their potential and how we intend to maximise the role of as wide a range of local partners as possible in helping us to achieve this goal. Recent examples of positive collaboration in South Basildon and East Thurrock include strong support for and active signposting of young people to Basildon local authority’s recent Apprenticeship Day; and hub-based support for young care leavers in Basildon delivered collaboratively by Local Authority support workers and Jobcentre Plus Work Coaches.

What steps her Department is taking to increase the provision of mental health first aid training.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for the Health and Safety (First-Aid Regulations) 1981, which require employers to undertake a first aid needs assessment including both mental and physical health risks, and to ensure there is suitable provision to meet the needs identified for their workplace. HSE has published a range of guidance on its website to support employers in carrying out their first aid needs assessment, and there is established guidance on appropriate first aid provision for employees requiring immediate intervention or support until professional emergency care can be accessed.

How many people receiving a state pension are no longer eligible for the winter fuel allowance in South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency.

It is estimated that around 15,200 pensioners in South Basildon and East Thurrock Constituency (2024 boundaries) will be affected by the decision to amend the eligibility criteria for the Winter Fuel Payment. This is based on February 2024 Pension Credit statistics which are available via DWP Stat-Xplore and the Winter Fuel Payment statistics for winter 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). This estimation is calculated by subtracting the number of people claiming Pension Credit in South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency from the number of Winter Fuel Payment recipients in South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency. It is possible to use the Pension Credit statistics, to give a minimum estimate of the number who may be eligible for Winter Fuel Payments. Therefore, the above estimation is essentially the number of Winter Fuel Payment recipients who are not claiming Pension Credit pre-policy change, as an estimate of those who will no longer receive the Winter Fuel Payment. Please note that the above estimation would not take into account any potential increase in Pension Credit take-up that we might see as a result of the Government’s Pension Credit Awareness Campaign. We do not have data on those additional Pension Credit claims by Parliamentary constituencies. The published Pension Credit figures refer to households, so the number of individuals in respect of whom Pension Credit is paid will be higher (i.e. taking account of households where a claimant has a partner and/or dependents). In addition, while Pension Credit claimants constitute the majority of those that will be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment, pensioners who claim other qualifying means-tested benefits will also be eligible for the Winter Fuel Payment. It is not, however, possible to include those on other qualifying means-tested benefits in these figures.

What steps her Department is taking to support people with autism spectrum disorder conditions into work.

We recognise that autistic people face particular barriers to employment, which is reflected in a poor overall employment rate. In our plan to make work pay, we committed to raising awareness of neurodiversity in the workplace. We have a range of specialist initiatives to support neurodivergent people to stay in work and get back into work. Measures include support from Work Coaches and Disability Employment Advisers in Jobcentres, Access to Work grants, as well as joining up health and employment support around the individual through Employment Advisors in NHS Talking Therapies and Individual Placement and Support in Primary Care. Employers will also be a large part of our success in this work. Our current support to employers includes a digital information service for employers, and the Disability Confident scheme. We will be considering how to enhance our work with employers in the months ahead.

What steps she is taking to support disabled claimants through the Personal Independence Payment review process.

We recognise the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) review process can be unsettling for some claimants. There are a number of ways in which we provide support: In order to speed up the review process, DWP Case Managers can now undertake PIP reviews in-house, removing the need for a consultation, in cases where sufficient evidence is provided by the claimant. This takes away the stress of a consultation and enables a decision to be made more quickly for the majority of claimants. For those cases that do need to be reviewed by a Healthcare Professional, different types of assessment types are available depending on claimant circumstances. Providers can offer telephony, video or face-to-face assessments or reviews can again be undertaken, in some cases, using information provided without the need for a consultation. For claimants who have severe mental health or cognitive impairments we apply an Additional Support marker to the case which protects the claimant from falling out of payment where they struggle to complete forms or engage in the process. This means that the case will progress to a review even where a review form cannot be completed. Where there are delays for claimants awaiting a review of their PIP award, we have taken steps to keep claimants informed and updated via text messages. In such cases, we routinely extend awards to ensure continuity of payments, enabling claimants (where appropriate) to retain eligibility for Motability vehicles and Blue Badges. To help claimants understand the process, information is provided on Gov.UK, which also includes the telephone number to call if more time is needed to complete the review form. This can be found at Personal Independence Payment (PIP): If your PIP claim is reviewed - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) . Gov.UK also signposts claimants to information from Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) about what claimants need to include when completing the PIP review form. Further details can be found at Help with your PIP review form - Citizens Advice.