Universal Credit Recipients 2023-01-23
2023-01-23
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The question addresses initiatives to help people on universal credit increase their income and access work coach appointments.
What steps are being taken to support people in receipt of universal credit with increasing both their level of pay and access to one-on-one appointments with a work coach?
We want people to work more, and ideally come off benefits—as we all know, UC progression means that work always pays more. To enable that, we have created in-work progression support that provides over 1.6 million more claimants with access to work support.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer does not specify additional out-of-hours training or discretionary spending mentioned by the questioner.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The initiative in Essex to support working people on universal credit is highlighted, including increased skills and hourly pay rate for participants.
In Chelmsford and across Essex, job coaches have been running a new initiative to support working people on universal credit to gain more income; many have seen an increase in their hourly pay rate or hours worked. The questioner urges the Government to provide out-of-hours training, offer more discretionary spending for courses, and help roll out these lessons nationwide.
It is true that Essex is a pioneer of our in-work progression offer; I spoke to one of the job coaches doing that in Essex only this morning. We are recruiting senior district progression leads who will work with local skills providers to ensure that there is appropriate training for in-work claimants. Bluntly, the Essex profile, along with the other volunteer organisations, will be going out to the entire country by the end of March 2023.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer does not mention additional out-of-hours training or discretionary funding as requested by the questioner.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
There is concern over the Department for Work and Pensions' ability to recruit in under-resourced areas, coupled with high voluntary redundancy rates.
With DWP struggling to recruit in under-resourced areas such as personal independence payments and child maintenance services, along with a significant number of staff taking voluntary redundancy, how will Ministers ensure that the Department can continue to effectively support its public responsibilities?
It is our intention to have jobs fairs, sector-based work academies and local recruitment on an ongoing basis. I am happy to discuss with the hon. Lady, whom I have worked with many times in the past, how we can do things in her patch.
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Assessment & feedback
The answer does not provide specific measures addressing recruitment challenges and high redundancies.
Discussing Previous Collaboration Without Addressing Current Issues
Response accuracy