Written questions by Chamberlain.

What assessment she has made of the potential merits of simplifying application forms for social security entitlements.

The Department continues to review the experience of users of its services, and seeks to balance application simplicity with obtaining the information needed for an accurate award. A key objective of DWP’s Service Modernisation Programme, drawing on end user research, is to assess how applications should be made in the future, and consider the opportunities for more user friendly and easily accessible services. DWP Agents and third-party organisations are available to support customers with applications. For those without third party support, DWP provides various support to assist with benefit applications. The Department’s Visiting Service offers the most vulnerable applicants help with form completion.

What steps her Department is taking to effectively communicate to eligible people over State Pension age that they may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is constantly working to improve the way it communicates information and is committed to encouraging older people to claim Carer’s Allowance where they are entitled to it. Information and advice about entitlement to Carer’s Allowance may be available from a range of outlets including DWP and other helplines, gov.uk and other internet sites, local authorities, Citizens Advice and welfare benefit offices, Social Services, voluntary organisations, such as, Age UK, Carers UK and Carers Trust and MacMillan, public libraries, health clinics, doctors' surgeries and health visitors.

What steps she is taking to share data between her Department and HMRC to identify households eligible for Pension Credit.

HMRC and DWP already have well established data-sharing processes and procedures, which are governed by the rules on how data can be accessed, shared and used whilst safeguarding individuals’ data and privacy. DWP officials are currently working with HMRC to explore how to use data more effectively to help identify pensioner households most likely to be eligible for Pension Credit and to target them directly.

If she make an assessment of the potential impact of the ineligibility for the Carer's Allowance of people in education for more than 21 hours a week on levels of poverty amongst young carers.

This Government recognises and appreciates the vital contribution made by all unpaid carers. It is a general principle that people in full-time education should be supported by the educational maintenance system, rather than the social security benefit sy...

With reference to her Department's guidance on Universal Credit and earnings, updated on 13 May 2024, if she will make an assessment of the potential impact of changes to Universal Credit payments in an

No impact assessment has been made on changes to the Universal Credit assessment periods or payment structures. However, the Government is committed to reviewing Universal Credit so that it makes work pay and tackles poverty.

Whether her Department plans to respond to the consultation entitled Modernising support for independent living: the health and disability green paper, which closed on 22 July 2024.

The consultation on Modernising support for independent living: the health and disability green paper ran for 12 weeks and closed on Monday 22 July. There were over 16,000 responses to the consultation, which demonstrates the depth of feeling about the pr...

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of the earnings threshold for claiming Carer's Allowance on levels of employment amongst unpaid carers.

The Government recognises the challenges unpaid carers are facing and is determined to provide them with the help and support they need and deserve. It is looking closely at how the benefit system currently does this. The Secretary of State undertakes a s...

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of differential uprating levels for (a) the additional state pension under the old pension system and (b) other elements of the state pension on le

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is required by law to undertake an annual review of State Pensions and benefits. Her review for this year will be based on CPI in the year to September 2024, and on earnings growth in the year to May-July 2024....

If she will make an estimate the number of pensioners who will see a reduction in their disposable income as a result of her proposed reforms to Winter Fuel Payments by (a) household type, (b) age and (

The estimated number of pensioners who will see a reduction in their disposable income as a result of proposed reforms to winter fuel payments by age and region, for Great Britain are shown in below tables (1+2). This analysis is not available by househol...

With reference to her Department's strategy entitled Fighting Fraud in the Welfare System: Going Further, updated on 13 May 2024, whether she plans to continue the roll out of alerts telling carers that they have a possible overpayment of Carer's Allowance.

The Department is currently assessing the results of a recent trial that issued an SMS message to prompt Carer’s Allowance recipients, to remind them to contact the department to report a change of earning. Changes of circumstances can be reported through Gov.uk, telephony and post.

Whether her Department plans to reduce the (a) number and (b) size of Carer's Allowance overpayments.

We recognise the challenges carers are facing and we are determined to provide unpaid carers with the support they need and deserve. With respect to overpayments of Carer’s Allowance, we are moving quickly to understand exactly what has gone wrong so we can set out our plan to put things right. Claimants have a responsibility to report change of circumstances as they happen. Customers taking action as soon as possible, to let the department know of a change will reduce the number and size of overpayments.

Whether her Department plans to review the (a) level, (b) eligibility criteria and (c) processes of Carer's Allowance.

The Secretary of State undertakes a statutory annual review of benefit and pensions, and the value of Carer’s Allowance is protected by up-rating it each year in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). This government will keep eligibility criteria and processes of Carer’s Allowance under review, to see if it is meeting its objectives.