Oral Answers to Questions

Ben Coleman Excerpts

Monday 27th April 2026 Commons Chamber

[Pat McFadden]

I believe that removing the three-day limit and giving access to statutory sick pay from day one, as well as making it available to those who work for multiple employers, should decrease the pressure on workers to have to work through illness.

My hon. Friend will be aware that the “Keep Britain Working” review led by Charlie Mayfield also aims to work with employers to help keep people in jobs while they cope with some of the long-term sickness issues that can develop as workers get older.

[Ben Coleman (Chelsea and Fulham) (Lab)]

10. What steps his Department is taking to ensure that disabled people are able to try work without automatically triggering a benefits reassessment.

[Tom Rutland (East Worthing and Shoreham) (Lab)]

21. What steps his Department is taking to ensure that disabled people are able to try work without automatically triggering a benefits reassessment.

[The Minister for Social Security and Disability (Sir Stephen Timms)]

We are determined that disabled people should have the confidence to try work. Our “right to try” legislation will come into force on Thursday. People claiming universal credit, new style employment support allowance and personal independence payment can take steps towards employment and be confident that doing so will not automatically trigger benefit reassessment.

[Ben Coleman]

I thank the Minister for that positive answer. Could he reassure my disabled constituents under the age of 22, many of whom are in education and low-paid work, that they will not lose their universal credit health payments? This financial support is vital to helping young disabled people, because they face the greatest barriers to work. Does he share my concern that removing it could push them further away from employment and deeper into poverty? Has an assessment been made of the impact on poverty of removing that support?