Oral Answers to Questions

Desmond Swayne Excerpts

Monday 30th November 2020 Commons Chamber

[Mims Davies]

As part of our plan for jobs, the new job-finding support and JETS services will, crucially, help jobseekers move back into employment as quickly as possible, helping them to identify sectors that could be growing or new to them. I met our JETS providers just last week to hear some of their early success stories from across England and Wales. JETS rolls out in Scotland in early January.

[Sir Desmond Swayne (New Forest West) (Con)]

Is there any evidence that the financial effects of coronavirus have been less severe on the recipients of legacy benefits than those on universal credit?

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Will Quince)]

First, let me say that I appreciate that many people are facing financial disruption due to the pandemic, and the Government have put an unprecedented package of support in place. The universal credit uplift was designed to be targeted at those facing the most financial disruption, but most working-age legacy benefits will be increased in April next year in line with inflation, and legacy benefits recipients could benefit from the local housing allowance or, indeed, the local welfare assistance schemes. I remind the House that claimants on legacy benefits can make a claim to universal credit if they believe they would be better off, but I would encourage them to check their eligibility as their legacy benefit entitlement will cease on application.