Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Karin Smyth and Justin Tomlinson

Monday 11th May 2020 Commons Chamber

[Justin Tomlinson]

Rightly, we target support at those most in need—those with low incomes—and they could, through universal credit, receive an additional £1,950 per year through the universal credit carer’s element, plus the extra £1,040 universal credit standard rate increase, which is the equivalent of the jobseeker’s allowance rate. I would encourage the claimant to look at all available support that they are entitled to.

[Karin Smyth (Bristol South) (Lab)]

What steps she has taken to help ensure prompt payment of access to work costs during the covid-19 outbreak.

[The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work (Justin Tomlinson)]

The access-to-work support has prioritised payments, including those to key workers, and where possible is making payments the same day. Key worker and new employee applications are being cleared urgently. Additionally, I am pleased to announce access-to-work recipients can now email claim forms as a reasonable adjustment.

[Karin Smyth [V]]

On 4 May, the Secretary of State assured the House that the Government would provide an automatic extension of PIP awards that are due to expire during the coronavirus virus pandemic. Can the Minister confirm that this extension applies to all claimants, including those who received an award following an appeal?

[Justin Tomlinson]

Obviously, PIP is different from access to work. There was an issue for those on fixed-term, short awards, but we have now addressed that, and those claimants will continue to get an automatic six months’ extension if it is due in the next three months.