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Written question asked by David Linden (Scottish National Party) on Wednesday, 2 February 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 7 February 2022 (named day). It was answered by Mims Davies (Conservative) on Monday, 7 February 2022 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Universal Credit

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to section 1.5.4 of the Levelling Up the United Kingdom White Paper, what steps she is taking to ensure that workers living in areas with lower access to jobs as a result of the local transport infrastructure are not disproportionately affected by universal credit sanctions through her Way to Work policy.

Answer

Way to Work is a concerted drive across the UK to help half a million people currently out of work into jobs in the next five months. While we have more people on company payrolls than before the pandemic, latest figures show there are around 1.2 million vacancies across the economy, including many in key sectors.

For new claimants, we are reducing the “permitted period” where a claimant has previously carried out work of a particular nature, or at a particular level of remuneration from a maximum of 3 months to a maximum of 4 weeks. A claimant must normally be willing to travel 90 minutes each way to work. This has not changed with the introduction of Way to Work.

Flexible Support Fund is available to help with the cost of attending interviews and can support travel costs for up to 3 months of the claimant starting work.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
117034
Session
2021-22
Related items
Levelling Up the United Kingdom
Wednesday, 2 February 2022
Command papers
House of Lords
House of Commons
Universal Credit
Monday, 21 February 2022
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Employment Disqualification Universal credit
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk