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To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department spent on Budgeting Loans (a) overall and (b) in each category in the 2023-24 financial year.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much her Department spent on Budgeting Loans (a) overall and (b) in each category in the 2023-24 financial year.
The total spent on Budgeting Loan awards in the 2023/24 financial year was £260.6 million.
A category breakdown for budgeting loans will be published in due course in the 2023/24 Social Fund annual report. This will include the breakdowns by regions, claimant group, family composition and reason for refusal by application group.
Please see for more information the 2023/24 Social Fund Annual Accounts- Social Fund Account 2023 to 2024 - GOV.UK
And previous Social Fund Annual reports- Social Fund accounts and reports - GOV.UK
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce (1) the waiting time for, and (2) the size of the loans available through, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ budgeting loans scheme.
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to reduce (1) the waiting time for, and (2) the size of the loans available through, the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ budgeting loans scheme.
98 per cent of claims for Social Fund Budgeting Loans are currently made online and the current target for notifying a decision is 8 working days. During 2020/21 the achieved target was 4.68 working days. We expect the performance figures for 21/22 to be published in the New Year. We continually review the delivery of different benefits.
The maximum amount for a Budgeting Loan application is £348 if you’re single, £464 if you have a partner and £812 if you or your partner claim Child Benefit. This ensures that help is available for intermittent expenses that are considered difficult to budget for, whilst ensuring that repayments are affordable as far as possible.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of suspending repayments on budgeting loans during the national covid-19 lockdown announced in January 2021.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of suspending repayments on budgeting loans during the national covid-19 lockdown announced in January 2021.
Debt recovery, including the recovery of Social Fund Budgeting Loans, was paused for 3 months from April 2020 so that Debt Management staff could support processing in excess of three million new Universal Credit claims following the outbreak of COVID 19.
Those staff have subsequently been able to return to their roles in Debt Management and we have adopted a phased and controlled approach to re-instating debt recovery, allowing us to manage the demand on services.
There are no current plans to re-instate the suspension of debt recovery, but we will keep the situation under review.
We recognise that there will be some people who may be experiencing financial difficulty, and anyone unable to afford the rate of recovery is encouraged to contact DWP so an affordable rate of repayment can be negotiated.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to extend the eligibility for budgeting loans to all families in receipt of universal credit.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make it her policy to extend the eligibility for budgeting loans to all families in receipt of universal credit.
This Government is committed to providing a strong safety-net for those who need it and continues to spend over ￡95 billion a year on working age welfare benefits. This includes a well-established system of hardship payments, benefit advances and budgeting loans for those who need extra support. The Government also provides a range of additional financial support to families and this includes free school meals, Healthy Start vouchers and help with health costs.
Budgeting Advances have replaced Budgeting Loans for those in receipt of Universal Credit helping to provide additional assistance for emergency household costs, such as replacing a broken cooker, getting a job or staying in work or funeral costs. Eligibility for a Budgeting Advance is explained on GOV.UK and can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-support
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many budgeting loans were issued in 2018.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many budgeting loans were issued in 2018.
In the period January to December 2018, there were 1,177,200 awards of Budgeting Loans in Great Britain. This figure does not include awards made after review, reconsideration or appeal following an initially unsuccessful application, and is rounded to the nearest 100
What records her Department keeps on the allocation of crisis and budgeting loans.
What records her Department keeps on the allocation of crisis and budgeting loans.
I appreciate the hon. Lady bringing up that really important case. We will take it away and get back to her.
I appreciate the hon. Lady bringing up that really important case. We will take it away and get back to her.
One of the benefits, or non-benefits, that is available is the crisis loan. My constituent, Mr Hayward, has been told by the Minister’s Department that he owes £1,500 in crisis loans taken out 13 years ago. There is just one small problem with that: he did not take out those loans. The Department cannot provide any paperwork to prove that he did so. How can anyone have any faith in anything that happens at the DWP?
One of the benefits, or non-benefits, that is available is the crisis loan. My constituent, Mr Hayward, has been told by the Minister’s Department that he owes £1,500 in crisis loans taken out 13 years ago. There is just one small problem with that: he did not take out those loans. The Department cannot provide any paperwork to prove that he did so. How can anyone have any faith in anything that happens at the DWP?
One of the benefits, or non-benefits, that is available is the crisis loan. My constituent, Mr Hayward, has been told by the Minister’s Department that he owes £1,500 in crisis loans taken out 13 years ago. There is just one small problem with that: he did not take out those loans. The Department cannot provide any paperwork to prove that he did so. How can anyone have any faith in anything that happens at the DWP?
I appreciate the hon. Lady bringing up that really important case. We will take it away and get back to her.
Will the Minister consider changing how budgeting loans are administered, as they currently do not take into account personal debt and so, ironically, can make budgeting harder?
Will the Minister consider changing how budgeting loans are administered, as they currently do not take into account personal debt and so, ironically, can make budgeting harder?
Budgeting loans are indeed available, but under universal credit we also have budgeting advances. If my hon. Friend has any specific cases she wishes to raise, I would be happy to talk to her about them.
Budgeting loans are indeed available, but under universal credit we also have budgeting advances. If my hon. Friend has any specific cases she wishes to raise, I would be happy to talk to her about them.
Budgeting loans are indeed available, but under universal credit we also have budgeting advances. If my hon. Friend has any specific cases she wishes to raise, I would be happy to talk to her about them.
Will the Minister consider changing how budgeting loans are administered, as they currently do not take into account personal debt and so, ironically, can make budgeting harder?
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Government has made available in real terms through (a) budgeting loans and (b) crisis loans in each year between 2010/11 and 2016/17.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Government has made available in real terms through (a) budgeting loans and (b) crisis loans in each year between 2010/11 and 2016/17.
The amount made available through Budgeting Loans is published in the annual Social Fund Accounts in nominal terms. These figures have been adjusted to real terms in 2016/17 prices and are outlined in the table below.
Year | Budgeting Loan payments - £m (2016/17 prices) |
2010/11 | 495.1 |
2011/12 | 491.4 |
2012/13 | 485.2 |
2013/14 | 434.2 |
2014/15 | 428.2 |
2015/16 | 414.1 |
2016/17 | 411.5 |
Notes:
- Figures are rounded to the nearest £0.1m.
- Figures are adjusted to real terms using GDP deflators.
The amount made available through Crisis Loans is published in the annual Social Fund Accounts in nominal terms. These figures have been adjusted to real terms in 2016/17 prices and are outlined in the table below.
Year | Crisis Loan payments - £m (2016/17 prices) |
2010/11 | 155.3 |
2011/12 | 153.8 |
2012/13 | 114.1 |
2013/14 | 3.6 |
2014/15 | 0.2 |
2015/16 | 0.1 |
2016/17 | 0.2 |
Notes:
- Figures are rounded to the nearest £0.1m.
- Figures are adjusted to real terms using GDP deflators.
- Crisis Loans were abolished with effect from 31/3/13. There have been no new Crisis Loan payments since then. The provision of interest free credit through Crisis Loans since their abolition represents a net transfer of customer debt from Northern Ireland where customers have moved between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. DWP manage the recovery of the transferred debt.
Sources:
- Social Fund Accounts, 2010/11 – 2016/17
- GDP deflators at market prices, and money GDP November 2017 (Autumn Budget 2017)
The links to the annual Social Fund Account for each of the last seven years are given below.
2010/11:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/247280/1307.pdf
2011/12:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/246945/0454.pdf
2012/13:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/209380/SFWPA_2012-13.pdf
2013/14:
2014/15:
2015/16:
2016/17:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November to Question 115390, whether people in receipt of (a) income Support, (b) income-related employment and support allowance or (c) income-related jobseeker's allowance who will in future receive universal credit will be permitted to...
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 29 November to Question 115390, whether people in receipt of (a) income Support, (b) income-related employment and support allowance or (c) income-related jobseeker's allowance who will in future receive universal credit will be permitted to...
Claimants who are in receipt of Income Support, income related Employment and Support Allowance and income based Jobseeker’s Allowance can qualify for a Social Fund Budgeting Loans if the satisfy the eligibility conditions. Claimants in receipt of Universal Credit can qualify for a Universal Credit Budgeting Advance which is also a loan that is interest free and for intermittent expenses such as furniture or household equipment.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much funding has been provided for Social Fund Budgeting Loans in each of the last 10 years; and how much funding will be provided in each of the next five years.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much funding has been provided for Social Fund Budgeting Loans in each of the last 10 years; and how much funding will be provided in each of the next five years.
Recoveries of the existing Social Fund debt stock are used to fund new Budgeting Loan payments therefore no funding is provided by Parliament, the money available is limited each year by the level of recoveries expected.
I. Letter dated 13/04/2016 from Baroness Altmann to the Deposited Papers Clerk enclosing document below for deposit. 1p. II. Social Fund (Budgeting Loan) Amendment Directions 2016. 1p.
I. Letter dated 13/04/2016 from Baroness Altmann to the Deposited Papers Clerk enclosing document below for deposit. 1p. II. Social Fund (Budgeting Loan) Amendment Directions 2016. 1p.
I. Letter dated 16/03/2016 from Baroness Altmann to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding the document below for deposit in the Library. 1p. II. Explanatory Note for the House of Commons Library - Discretionary Social Fund Budget Allocation 2016/17. 1p.
I. Letter dated 16/03/2016 from Baroness Altmann to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding the document below for deposit in the Library. 1p. II. Explanatory Note for the House of Commons Library - Discretionary Social Fund Budget Allocation 2016/17. 1p.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications for budgeting loans were approved in each month from June 2014.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications for budgeting loans were approved in each month from June 2014.
Table 1 shows the number of Budgeting Loan awards made monthly by the Department for Work and Pensions between June 2014 and May 2015.
Table 1: Budgeting Loan Awards, June 2014 to May 2015
Month | Initial |
Jun-14 | 79,000 |
Jul-14 | 92,200 |
Aug-14 | 63,300 |
Sep-14 | 74,600 |
Oct-14 | 109,300 |
Nov-14 | 112,800 |
Dec-14 | 116,200 |
Jan-15 | 52,900 |
Feb-15 | 65,800 |
Mar-15 | 77,200 |
Apr-15 | 76,900 |
May-15 | 74,700 |
Notes
· These figures do not include applications which were processed clerically and have not been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System.
· These figures do not include awards made after review, reconsideration or appeal following an initial refusal.
· These figures should not be compared directly with the number of applications received by the Department in these months. Some applications are withdrawn before a decision is made. In addition, cases take an average of 7 working days to be processed so an application and corresponding award may be recorded in different months.
· All figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications were made for budgeting loans in each month from June 2014.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many applications were made for budgeting loans in each month from June 2014.
Table 1 shows the number of Budgeting Loan applications received monthly by the Department for Work and Pensions between June 2014 and May 2015.
Table 1: Budgeting Loan Applications, June 2014 to May 2015
Month | Applications |
Jun-14 | 107,400 |
Jul-14 | 111,700 |
Aug-14 | 85,000 |
Sep-14 | 107,900 |
Oct-14 | 140,500 |
Nov-14 | 151,500 |
Dec-14 | 108,600 |
Jan-15 | 78,900 |
Feb-15 | 81,200 |
Mar-15 | 92,400 |
Apr-15 | 100,100 |
May-15 | 89,500 |
Notes
· These figures do not include applications which were processed clerically and have not been entered on to the Social Fund Computer System.
· All figures are rounded to the nearest 100.
I. Letter dated 24/03/2015 from Steve Webb MP to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding a document for deposit in the House of Commons Library. 1p. II. Discretionary Social Fund budget allocation 2015/16. 1p.
I. Letter dated 24/03/2015 from Steve Webb MP to the Deposited Papers Clerk regarding a document for deposit in the House of Commons Library. 1p. II. Discretionary Social Fund budget allocation 2015/16. 1p.
I. Local welfare provision review. 37 p. II. Letter dated 10/11/2014 from Steve Webb MP to the Deposited Papers Clerk depositing the review in the House Libraries. 1 p.
I. Local welfare provision review. 37 p. II. Letter dated 10/11/2014 from Steve Webb MP to the Deposited Papers Clerk depositing the review in the House Libraries. 1 p.