Every parliamentary written question tabled by Rupert Lowe this session, with the full answer and department. Back to the MP page.
Showing 121–140 of 143 · Department for Work and Pensions
How many claimants are in receipt of Universal Credit after passing a habitual residency test.
The information is not readily available and has not previously been published as official statistics. The Department is exploring the feasibility of developing suitable official statistics related to the immigration status of non-UK / Irish Universal Credit customers.
How many National Insurance numbers were issued to (a) Bulgarian and (b) Romanian nationals resident in Great Yarmouth constituency in each year since 2016.
The Department publishes quarterly statistics on National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK on Stat-Xplore. The latest statistics, for January 2002 to June 2024, can be compiled by rolling year end to June and nationality down to country level, and are available by Westminster parliamentary constituency (based on the address given at time of National Insurance number registration). Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required.
How many National Insurance numbers were issued to foreign nationals in each year since 2010.
The Department publishes quarterly statistics on National Insurance number allocations to adult overseas nationals entering the UK on Stat-Xplore. The latest statistics, for January 2002 to June 2024, can be compiled by rolling year end to June and nationality down to country level, and are available by Westminster parliamentary constituency (based on the address given at time of National Insurance number registration). Users can log in or access Stat-Xplore as a guest and, if needed, can access guidance on how to extract the information required.
How much was paid by her Department to Serco in each of the last 10 years.
This information you seek can be found on the Government website here DWP: departmental spending over £25,000 - GOV.UK
How much her Department has attributed to fraud and error in each of the last ten years.
The Department publishes estimates of the levels of fraud and error in the benefit system by financial year. These statistics are available for the past ten financial years and can be found at: Fraud and error in the benefit system - GOV.UK
Pursuant to the Answer of 4 November 2024 to Question 11207 on Habitual Residence Test, how many habitual residence tests related to Universal Credit assessments have been granted in each of the last five years.
The table below gives the number of Universal Credit (UC) Habitual Residence Test (HRT) assessments that resulted in a ‘pass’ decision in the past five years. Date Decision Entered on Admin SystemNumber of UC HRT 'Pass' DecisionsApril 2019 to March 2020381,000April 2020 to March 2021918,000April 2021 to March 20221,046,000April 2022 to March 2023555,000April 2023 to March 2024533,000April 2024 to September 2024322,000Source: DWP internal analysis of UC Dataworks tables) Notes:The Habitual Residence Test (HRT) is nationality blind. It is applied to British citizens returning from abroad to check for factual habitual residency in the UK, as well as to foreign nationals to check they have an immigration status permitting access to public funds and that they are factually habitually resident.All figures are rounded to the nearest thousand decisions.An individual may have multiple HRT assessments.These figures are not Official Statistics. These figures stem from administrative data and represent the best estimates using current methodologies and assumptions about the data. Future improvements in methodology may lead to different subsequent estimates.Figures are for the UK.
How many recipients of Universal Credit were born outside the UK in each of the last five years.
The Department does not collect data on the country of birth of individuals claiming Universal Credit. DWP policy responsibility lies in establishing a customer's eligibility to claim benefits. An individual's specific country of birth does not play a role in this and the Department therefore does not collect the country of birth information at the point of a Universal Credit claim.
What the total number of staff employed to review Personal Independence Payment claims is; and how many fraudulent claims were made in each of the last five years.
DWP currently has 2,700 FTE employed to review Personal Independence Payment Claims. Staff RoleFTEDS PIP New Claims and Award Reviews2700 Notes:Data is correct as of 04th November 2024.Data for PIP New Claims and Award Reviews staff has been derived from the Department’s Activity Based Model (ABM).ABM FTE (Full Time Equivalent) have been rounded to the nearest 100.The number of staff that are employed on PIP New Claims and Award Reviews activity is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal department use and has not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics standard. As the Department holds the information, we have released it. Please refer to table 12 in the following published document which shows levels of fraud and error in the benefits system, including PIP. fraud-and-error-statistics-release-2023-2024-estimates-data-tables.xlsx The published fraud statistics only provide an estimate of the percentage of PIP cases that are fraudulent. The total number can be calculated by applying that percentage to the total PIP caseload – information can be found at: Personal Independence Payment: Official Statistics to July 2024 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
What the average (a) waiting time for people calling and (b) time people spent on hold for (i) Job Centre Plus, (ii) the Universal Credit helpline and (iii) the Personal Independence Payment helpline was in each of the last five years.
The table below shows the Average Speed of Answer and Average Hold Time for all people calling (i) Job Centre Plus, (ii) the Universal Credit helpline and (iii) the Personal Independence Payment helpline in each of the last 4 business years, with 2024 to 2025 being to date only (01/04/24 to 27/10/24). We are only able to provide a breakdown of the Average Speed of Answer for 5th business year 2020/2021, we do not hold that breakdown of data for Average Hold Time, this was only reported at DWP level prior to 2021.Please note for part(i) of the request, figures provided are from Job Centre enquiry line only. DWP hierarchy does not have a telephony service line for Job Centre Plus. Reporting YearProduct LineAverage Speed of Answer (hh:mm:ss)Average Hold Time (hh:mm:ss)2020-2021Jobcentre Enquiry Line00:01:02N/APersonal Independence Payment00:18:15N/AUniversal Credit00:03:41N/A2021-2022Jobcentre Enquiry Line00:02:0300:00:59Personal Independence Payment00:18:1000:00:25Universal Credit00:05:0900:00:412022-2023Jobcentre Enquiry Line00:02:3400:00:40Personal Independence Payment00:19:2100:00:29Universal Credit00:02:5600:00:212023-2024Jobcentre Enquiry Line00:01:5200:00:37Personal Independence Payment00:17:3300:00:42Universal Credit00:02:4500:00:13*2024-2025Jobcentre Enquiry Line00:01:2100:00:33Personal Independence Payment00:11:3500:00:40Universal Credit00:03:2400:00:09*year to date 01/04/2024 to 27/10/2024 DISCLAIMER Please note this information is derived from the Department’s management information, designed solely for the purpose of helping the Department to manage its business. As such, it has not been subjected to the rigorous quality assurance checks applied to our published official statistics. As DWP holds the information internally, we have released it. However, it is possible information held by DWP may change due to operational reasons and we recommend that caution be applied when using it.
How many staff in their Departmental work outside of the UK; where these staff work; and what the cost is of salaries for these staff.
None of the DWP’s employees work outside the UK.
What estimate her Department has made of the total number of people of working age currently out of work.
Official statistics for the number of people unemployed and economically inactive are published each month by the independent Office for National Statistics (ONS), estimated using the Labour Force Survey. The ONS headline labour market statistics define working age as between 16 and 64 years old. The latest statistics show 10.61 million people are of working age currently out of work in the UK (June-August 2024) – 1.347 million who are unemployed and 9.263 million who are economically inactive. Of the 9.263 million who are economically inactive, 2.491 million are students and 1.674 million are looking after family/home. Unemployment (000's)1,347 Economic inactivity by reason (000's) Student2,491Looking after family / home1,674Temp sick201Long-term sick2,750Discouraged workers33Retired1,079Other1,035 Total (000's)10,610
How many individuals claiming Universal Credit have received fit notes for each of the last three financial years.
The number of people on Universal Credit in Great Britain who submitted an accepted fit note to the Department for each of the last three financial years is shown in the table below: 2021 to 20222022 to 20232023 to 2024854,390896,790908,740 Notes:Numbers are rounded to 10.Although most will have submitted Statements of Fitness for Work (fit notes), other forms of medical evidence that the Department accepts (e.g. hospital discharge letters) will be included in the totals.Data is taken from Universal Credit analytical systems but results have not been quality assured to Official Statistics publication standard.The Department regularly publishes Universal Credit Health Journey caseload statistics on Stat-Xplore including the monthly number of people on UC Health with a current fit-note.
How many habitual residence tests have been granted in each year of the last five years.
With the exception of Universal Credit, the information requested is not held centrally for the relevant DWP benefits and to provide it would incur disproportionate costs. DWP uses the habitual residence test for income-related benefits (Universal Credit, State Pension Credit and Housing Benefit) to assess whether customers have a legal right to reside in the UK and whether they are factually habitually resident in the UK, as required in legislation. The habitual residence test is designed to prevent access to the welfare system for those who are not eligible and do not have an intention to live and/or work in the UK, ensuring both fairness in accessing public funds and that only those eligible are able to access benefits. All claimants must meet the requirements of the habitual residence test, including British citizens returning from periods of time living abroad, unless they are part of an exempt group as laid out in legislation (such as those fleeing specific humanitarian crises abroad specified in relevant secondary legislation).
What the (a) average waiting time for people calling and (b) time people spent on hold for her Department was in each of the last five years.
The table below shows the Average Speed of Answer and Total Hold Time for all people calling DWP for the last 5 business years, with 2024 to 2025 being to 20th Oct’ 2024* only, that being the last date for which data is available. Average Speed of Answer (hh:mm:ss)Average Hold Time (hh:mm:ss)2020 – 202100:08:3300:00:322021 – 202200:09:3900:00:362022 – 202300:08:2200:00:282023 – 202400:08:3400:00:262024 to date*00:07:58*00:00:25*To date Please note, the data shown is unpublished management information, collected and intended for internal departmental use. The figures provided may therefore be subject to retrospective change and have not been quality assured to National Statistics or Official Statistics publication standards.
How often her Department reviews the eligibility of foreign nationals for (a) Universal Credit and (b) other benefits.
In order to receive taxpayer-funded benefits (public funds benefits) such as Universal Credit or Personal Independence Payments, an individual must either be a British or Irish citizen or hold a valid UK immigration status that allows them to access such benefits. Whether someone holds a valid immigration status or is a British or Irish citizen is tested at the outset of a customer’s claim through DWP residency tests and verified through information from the Home Office. If a foreign national customer reports a change of circumstances which could affect their eligibility for benefits, or DWP is made aware of such a change in circumstances by another government department (such as the Home Office), then the relevant claim will be reviewed and a decision made accordingly. This includes, for example, if a customer’s immigration status changes and they no longer have recourse to public funds – in which case, their claim will be closed. If a customer has a time-limited immigration status which allows them access to public funds benefits then this will be marked on the claim and checked accordingly in future to ensure they are still eligible to receive benefits. For DWP contributory benefits, customers will need to satisfy other eligibility criteria such as having sufficient employment periods and national insurance contributions. For a customer to have been employed and therefore meet the contributory benefits criteria, a valid National Insurance number is required, meaning their identity and valid immigration status will have been verified separately.
What discussions she has had with local authorities on tackling youth unemployment in Great Yarmouth constituency.
Our plan to Get Britain Working includes a new Youth Guarantee for all young people aged 18-21 to ensure that they can access quality training opportunities, an apprenticeship or help to find work in their local area. This will sit alongside; a new national jobs and careers service to help get more people into work, and work health and skills plans for the economically inactive, to open new opportunities for young people. We will set out further detail in the upcoming Labour Market White Paper. The department recognises that the needs of young people will vary depending on where they live and their own individual circumstances. The broad national reach of Jobcentres and its network of Partnership Managers means the Department for Work and Pensions is in regular contact with local stakeholders including working closely with Local Authorities. This joint working approach is at the core of the Department for Work and Pensions Youth Offer. A recent example of collaboration in Great Yarmouth includes a multi-agency Great Yarmouth Skills Taskforce involving the Jobcentre and stakeholders from Great Yarmouth Borough Council, Norfolk County Council, East Coast College and the Universities of East Anglia and Suffolk in tandem with training providers such as Access Community Enterprises, business and community organisations. The immediate focus is on youth to support to entry and progression in the labour market.
How many people are claiming the enhanced mobility component of the personal independence payment by each eligible health condition.
The Department regularly publishes Personal Independence Payment (PIP) statistics. The 'PIP Cases with Entitlement' dataset on Stat-Xplore, which contains the number of people entitled to PIP by mobility award status and health condition, has been suspended due to technical issues which are adversely affecting the Stat-Xplore site itself. This data series will be re-instated as soon as this issue has been resolved. The ‘PIP Clearances’ dataset is unaffected and provides the number of people who were awarded PIP, by mobility award status and health condition, each month from April 2013 to July 2024.
How much has been spent on (a) translation and (b) interpretation for individuals contacting her Department in each of the last five years.
Translation CostInterpretation Costs2019/20£ 472,539£ 2,219,6132020/21£ 398,270£ 3,537,8722021/22£ 518,927£ 6,823,1402022/23£ 641,747£ 5,668,8222023/24£ 677,614£ 6,195,053
Pursuant to the Answer of 14 October to Question 6949 on Social Security Benefits: Foreign Nationals, if she will make it her policy to collect data on the nationality of those claiming benefits.
There are no plans to start consistently collecting nationality data across all DWP benefit lines. This is because DWP policy responsibility lies in establishing a customer’s eligibility to claim benefits. An individual’s specific nationality does not play a role in this. The Department checks immigration status when assessing eligibility for benefits, but this information is not collated centrally across all benefit lines and hence is not readily available. We are, however, exploring the feasibility of developing suitable statistics related to the immigration status of non-UK / Irish customers.
How much her Department spent on the Flexible Support Fund for (a) laptops and (b) mobile phones in the last financial year.
The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.