Welfare Reforms 2024-03-18
2024-03-18
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Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP is inquiring about the timeline for welfare reform roll-out, given recent initiatives.
What his planned timetable is for the roll-out of welfare reforms. Phase 1 has been activated and phase 2 will follow later this year.
Phase 1 of our universal support has already been activated, and phase 2 will be rolled out later this year. Next month we will announce 15 WorkWell areas—about a third of England—that have been successfully selected, and they will be rolled out live this autumn.
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Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP is following up on the need for more intensive job centre support after 13 weeks of unemployment.
Could he update the House on the additional jobcentre support roll-out, and when my constituents might get access to those benefits? The data is clear that after 13 weeks out of work, the chances of someone finding work starts to fall off rapidly.
AJS has been rolled out in parts of the country at six weeks and will shortly be extended and strengthened for two weeks at the 13-week stage of the unemployment journey. That is part of the more intensive conditions that we apply to ensure that we help—and in many circumstances, require—people to go back into work.
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Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP is concerned about the impact of universal credit rules on small business owners, particularly hill farmers in his constituency who have seen a 41% drop in income over four years.
Will the Secretary of State urgently look at that, so that small business owners—especially hill farmers in my constituency—are not made even poorer because of the Government's rules? The welfare system does not work for them, as they are paid less than the minimum wage and access to universal credit is less due to the minimum income floor.
The hon. Gentleman is right inasmuch as universal credit for the self-employed has to recognise inconsistent levels of income month to month. That is why we have a minimum income floor and arrangements around that; I am looking closely at these issues.
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Assessment & feedback
Urgent look into the issue
Response accuracy