Benefits: Eligibility

Viscount Younger of Leckie Excerpts

Thursday 9th January 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Stedman-Scott]

To ask His Majesty’s Government what criteria they use to assess the eligibility of people claiming benefits, such as Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit, due to ill health; and how frequently these claims are reviewed.

[Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)]

My Lords, on behalf of my noble friend Lady Stedman-Scott, and with her permission, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in her name on the Order Paper.

[Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Cryer) (Lab)]

My Lords, before I answer the noble Viscount’s Question, I briefly pay tribute to Alan Haselhurst—Baron Haselhurst—who retired from this place during the Christmas Recess. When I was first elected to the other place in 1997, Alan was the Senior Deputy Speaker and always dealt with the many new MPs with a great deal of patience. I do not remember him ever losing his temper, despite my best efforts, and he was a great Deputy Speaker. He will be much missed, certainly by me. I am in danger of waxing lyrical, so I had better get to the Question.

I am grateful to the noble Lord for his Question. The work capability assessment—the WCA—determines eligibility for ESA and the additional health-related amount of universal credit. It assesses an individual against a set of legal definitions to determine their ability to work. The department prioritises WCAs for new claims; reassessments occur when there is a need to redetermine capability for work, which itself is a separate process. The frequency of when claims are reassessed is determined by an understandably limited capacity.

[Viscount Younger of Leckie (Con)]

I echo the Minister’s words about Lord Haselhurst; I completely agree with him.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has acknowledged that addressing long-term sickness is key to the PM’s priority mission to boost economic growth. She has promised to address spiralling economic inactivity. We all understand that support must be provided to those who are generally unable to work. However, according to the ONS, 21.9% of all 16 to 64 year-olds are economically inactive. I am sure the House agrees that these numbers are completely unsustainable for the taxpayer and the individuals concerned, and to achieve growth. What is the Government’s current sanctions policy? Will they introduce new sanctions on those who are capable of work but refuse to?