Requesting additional budget

MPs may apply to IPSA for contingency funding, under the following circumstances:

• where they have incurred a cost, or liability for a cost, which is not covered by the Scheme, but which they consider to be in support of their parliamentary functions

• where their spending under a particular budget has exceeded or may exceed the budget limit for the year and they consider this to be the result of exceptional circumstances [10.6]

To apply for contingency funding, MPs must complete and sign a Contingency Funds Application Form and follow the process in the guidance [10.7].

Once completed, please email your application form to contingencypayments@theipsa.org.uk.

You can no longer submit a contingency application form in IPSA Online. This change has been implemented to streamline and clarify the process for MPs and IPSA.

For more information, visit Applying for contingency funding.

IPSA may decide to accept or reject an application at its discretion.

In considering its decision IPSA shall take into account the following factors:

• whether there are exceptional circumstances warranting additional support

• whether the MP could reasonably have been expected to take any action to avoid the circumstances which gave rise to the expenditure or liability, and

• whether the MP's performance of parliamentary functions will be significantly impaired by a refusal of the claim [10.8]

Removal costs for moving to new accommodation may be claimed from the contingency "not applied for" budget.

You do not need to submit a contingency application to claim.

Other costs associated with moving, including any legal costs, must be claimed from the accommodation costs budget. [4.17]

For MPs representing Welsh constituencies, the cost of translation between the Welsh and English languages can be claimed from the Contingency Not Applied For Budget rather than the Office Costs Budget.

No prior approval is required. [6.28]

What can and cannot be funded by IPSA

If any equipment required is below £50 it can be claimed through your office costs budget.

If the equipment you require does not appear on the list of equipment provided by PDS, this can be claimed through your office costs budget.

You are encouraged to speak to PDS before purchasing so they can advise on any cyber or information security issues.

If the equipment required is on the list of equipment provided by the PDS but you require a different specification, for example, then you will need to contact IPSA to explain why and provide a rationale.

For a full list of equipment PDS provides, visit Provision of IT equipment for Commons Members & their staff – PDS policy.

IPSA expects you to have discussed this with PDS first in case your request can be provided by them.

Before contacting IPSA to seek approval, please consider the following:

• The specific reason for the purchase.

• Does the proposed cost represent value for money?

• Would this equipment purchase cause an issue for future repairs or ongoing support?

• Do you have sufficient funds in your office costs budget to purchase the equipment?

You can seek approval by emailing info@theipsa.org.uk outlining your request and addressing the points above, or by discussing this with your IPSA Account Manager.

Please do not purchase equipment without first discussing this with IPSA.

IPSA may also enquire with PDS to determine if a particular item of hardware is provided by PDS or not, and PDS will advise them, accordingly, providing technical input.

These arrangements will be kept under review until April 2025.

If you do incur the cost before seeking approval, repayment may be required if the item (or similar) could have been provided by PDS.

The Scheme of MPs’ Staffing and Business Costs allows MPs to apply for additional funding, known as contingency payments.

Please note: where you have been advised to apply for contingency by an IPSA staff member, this is not an indication of whether the outcome is likely to be successful.

All applications will be assessed by the panel against the assessment criteria above

What contingency funding is for

Where MPs have incurred a cost, or liability for a cost, which is not covered by the Scheme, but which they consider to be in support of their parliamentary functions.

Where MPs’ spending under a particular budget has exceeded or may exceed the budget limit for the year and they consider this to be the result of exceptional circumstances.

Removal costs incurred by MPs when changing their accommodation or office. These are automatically covered by the Contingency Fund and a separate contingency application does not need to be made.

Staff redundancy payments resulting from MPs leaving Parliament (voluntarily or losing their seat at an election). Again, these are automatically covered by the Contingency Fund.

What contingency funding is not for

Contingency payments are not available to cover costs incurred as part of MPs’ or their staff members’ regular parliamentary functions, such as routine casework (even when there are high volumes) or office equipment hire.

Contingency payments are not available for MPs who wish to "top up" their budget at the end of the financial year without evidence of exceptional circumstances, or for expenditure that they have had reasonable opportunity to budget for.

Procedures

To be considered for a contingency payment, MPs must complete and sign a Contingency Funds Application Form, setting out their case for additional funding.

MPs should provide evidence or explanation, where applicable, to support their application. IPSA will return an application if the information provided is not sufficient for a decision to be made.

While there is not an expectation that MPs should reduce spending in other areas to make room for an unexpected cost outside their control, MPs are expected to demonstrate that they have attempted to cover the cost within their existing budget.

Costs relating to Disability Assistance or Security Assistance should be applied for as described in Chapter 10 of the Scheme, not via the Contingency Fund.

If MPs have an exceptional need to purchase new office equipment or furniture during the winding-up period they must apply for contingency funding.

Contingency Panel decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis, using the evidence provided.

Publication

Both approved and rejected applications to the Contingency Fund will be published on the IPSA website, as stated in our Publication Scheme.

Temporary and minor injuries

If MPs or staff members sustain temporary or minor injuries that affect their ability to carry out their parliamentary functions, they can apply to the Contingency Fund for expenditure incurred to support them outside the parliamentary estate, and for travelling to and from work.

For such cases, IPSA will require a medical report, in addition to an application form, which demonstrates the nature of the injury and how it will impair the individual’s ability to carry out their work. This can be in the form of a note from a GP, another medical professional, or the House of Commons Safety Health and Wellbeing Service.

IPSA may request a medical report that explains whether the injury is more significant, or permanent. If this is the case, funding should be applied for under Disability Assistance. Individual claims for Disability Assistance are not published. Only an aggregate figure for all Disability Assistance is published, once a year.

To be considered for a contingency payment, MPs must complete and sign a Contingency Funds Application Form, setting out their case for additional funding.

MPs should provide evidence or explanation – where applicable – to support their application. IPSA will return an application if the information provided is insufficient for a decision to be made.

Once completed, please email your application form to ContingencyPayments@theipsa.org.uk.

The role of the Contingency Panel (“the Panel”) is to consider applications from MPs for additional funding.

This additional funding will be for those MPs to undertake their parliamentary duties effectively, where a cost or liability is not covered by any of the budgets set out in the Scheme of MPs’ Staffing and Business Costs or where it exceeds any financial limits that may apply.

The Panel will have regard to paragraphs 10.11, 10.12 and 10.13 of the Scheme and the accompanying guidance. It will also have regard to other decisions taken by the Board and any other relevant guidance, as required.

The Panel will consider applications in the following areas.

• staffing expenditure budgets

• office costs budgets

• accommodation budgets

• other exceptional claims where there is not an established policy position or where the claim is not covered specifically by the rules or budgets set out in the Scheme

When a clear policy position is established and communicated to MPs, the claim can be handled through the miscellaneous section of the online system or any other budget as specified.

The Panel has delegated authority from the IPSA Board to make decisions about the provision of additional funding under the contingency arrangements.

The Panel may, using its judgment, make minor policy decisions on which there is no established policy. The Chair of the Panel will be responsible for deciding whether any particular case should be referred to the Board because it raises a more significant matter of principle on which there is no established policy.

All decisions regarding additional funding taken by the Panel have effect only for the relevant financial year.

Composition

The Contingency Panel is comprised of staff from across IPSA. Currently, the Panel includes the:

• Director of Policy and Engagement (Chair)

• Director of MP Services (or representatives)

• Head of Finance (or a representative)

• Head of Policy

• Head of Payroll

• Chief of Staff

• Validation Manager

• At least one other policy team representative

Where necessary, in considering a request for additional funding, the Panel will invite the appropriate MP Account Managers and/or Payroll Officers to represent the case and provide background information.

The policy team will provide advice and administrative support to the Panel.

Process

The Panel will normally meet once a week. There should be at least three members of the Panel in attendance, and at least one person who is not from the policy team.

The Panel will assess each application on a case-by-case basis, making its judgement on whether each application provides sufficient justification to be approved. A proportionate approach will be taken in terms of information requirements that will be applied to applications that involve insignificant amounts of additional funding.

If an application is deemed to be urgent, the Chair may consider the application out of committee and if necessary, decide without consulting all other Panel members. However, the Chair should make every effort to consult all members of the Panel and should not decide without consulting at least one other member.

MPs will be notified of Panel decisions (including a request for further information) within 48 hours of the Panel sitting, with a routine target of 24 hours.

MPs may request that the Panel reconsider its initial decision, providing further evidence in support of the application.

If the MP is dissatisfied with the Panel’s decision following that reconsideration, they may ask for a review of the decision by either the Compliance Officer or Lea Paterson, IPSA Board Member (if the MP does not think that due process has been followed by the Panel).

There will be a minute of the decisions taken at every Panel meeting, which will be circulated to members of the Panel along with a list of actions.

The policy team will ensure that actions identified in the minutes are allocated to the appropriate person and completed. It is normally the responsibility of the Policy team to notify MPs of decisions, although this can be undertaken by other teams where appropriate.

Certain information about contingency applications and the Panel’s decisions, as well as costs claimed from the contingency budget, will be published on IPSA’s website, in line with IPSA’s publication policy.