here - United Kingdom Parliament

1251W
Written Answers
6 JUNE 2013
Written Answers
1252W
Jobseeker’s Allowance: Scotland
Margaret Curran: To ask the Secretary of State for
Work and Pensions how many claimants of jobseeker’s
allowance in Scotland have received a sanction on (a)
one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four, (e) five and (f) more
than five occasions in each year since 2010. [158442]
Mr Hoban: The information requested is given in the
following table:
Number 1 of jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) sanctions applied 2 by year of decision 3 and the number of times the claimant has been sanctioned in that year in Scotland
Jobcentre Plus Group 7 :1 January 2010 to 21 October 2012
Year of decision 3
Number of times the claimant has been sanctioned in this year 2010 2011 2012
One 32,790 31,880 32,080
Two 6,600 6,170 7,020
Three 1,840 1,650 2,190
Four 570 550 850
Five 240 190 330
More than five 180 180 240
Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10. ‘—’ denotes nil or negligible.
2. Sanctions applied: The number of sanctions applied is the number of Varied 4 , Fixed Length 5 and Entitlement Decision 6 referrals where the decision was found
against the claimant.
3. Year of decision: The year in which the decision to apply a sanction was made. The year 2012 only includes data up to and including 21 October, where these are the
latest data available.
4. Varied Length sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for leaving employment voluntarily without just cause, refusing employment
without good cause, or losing employment through misconduct. The actual period in each case is at the discretion of the Adjudication Officer who makes the
decision.
5. Fixed Length sanctions: A sanction of between one week and 26 weeks is imposed for refusal, without good cause, to attend an employment programme or carry
out a Jobseeker’s Direction. Payment of benefit continues in full pending the Adjudication Officer’s decision on a sanction question.
6. Entitlement Decisions: These are questions on which entitlement to JSA depends. For example, if there is doubt around whether the Jobseeker’s agreement (JSAg)
is suitable, whether they are actively looking for work or making themselves available for work. In most cases payment of JSA will be suspended by benefit processing
until the doubt is resolved.
7. Jobcentre Plus Group: Formerly known as Jobcentre Plus Regions. Jobcentre Plus Groups were updated to reflect changes to the hierarchical structure of Jobcentre
Plus implemented on 5 April 2011 from 11 regions to seven groups.
Source:
DWP Information, Governance and Security Directorate: JSA Sanctions and Disallowance Decisions Statistics Database.
Mortgages: Government Assistance
Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions what the income level is beyond which individuals
are no longer eligible for support for mortgage interest;
and what the age profile is of recipients of support for
mortgage interest. [158210]
Steve Webb: Support with mortgage interest (SMI) is
not a stand alone benefit but is a component of income
support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, and incomerelated
employment and support allowance and state
pension credit. The level of these benefits depends upon
the circumstances of the individual case. For example,
whether the claimant is single or has a partner, whether
they have children, whether someone has a disability. It
also depends upon the amount of the SMI to which
they are entitled.
It is not possible therefore to provide a figure for the
level of income beyond which individuals are no longer
eligible for support for mortgage interest.
In universal credit, an owner-occupier who is in receipt
of earned income will not qualify for SMI. However,
owner occupiers in universal credit who are not receiving
SMI will qualify, where applicable, for the higher earnings
disregards that apply to those claimants who have no
housing costs.
The SMI caseload by age group is as follows:
Rounded
Under 18 18-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-59 60-64 65 and Over Total
JSA 1
— — 2,500 7,300 9,700 3,400 900 1
— 23,900
IS 1
— 2
100 3,600 10,600 16,100 9,000 2,000 1
— 41,500
PC 1
— 1
— 1
— 1
— 1
— 1
— 20,500 74,700 95,200
All(ex.ESA) 1
— 2
200 6,200 17,900 25,800 12,500 23,400 74,700 160,600
1
Nil or Negligible.
2
Figures are subject to a high degree of sampling error and should only be used as a guide.
Notes:
1. Equivalent data for employment and support allowance (ESA) is not available.
2. JSA = jobseeker’s allowance; IS = income support; PC = pension credit; ESA = employment and support allowance.
3. Sample data has been weighted to 100% data.
4. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest hundred.
Source:
DWP Quarterly Statistical Enquiry (sample data), November 2012.
Universal Credit
Mr Ward: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and
Pensions (1) whether his Department plans to carry out
an impact assessment on the introduction of housing
costs contributions under universal credit; [157629]
(2) what assessment he has made of the potential
effects on youth (a) unemployment and (b) homelessness