Oral Answers to Questions

Liz Twist Excerpts

Monday 15th October 2018 Commons Chamber

[Alok Sharma]

I go up and down the country to jobcentres, and they invariably tell me they are having a good experience. They are learning from the past. What I think my hon. Friend will find is that his jobcentre is absolutely prepared for this further roll-out.

[Liz Twist (Blaydon) (Lab)]

6. What steps her Department has taken to ensure that claiming universal credit online is accessible to blind and partially sighted people.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Guy Opperman)]

The online system has been designed with accessibility in mind, and it has been audited and approved by the Royal National Institute of Blind People for all accessibility needs. Face-to-face and telephone support are in place for those vulnerable claimants who cannot self-serve online.

[Liz Twist]

Many disabled people are already having problems claiming universal credit. With the regulations for managed migration expected shortly, the Disability Benefits Consortium fears that many people with disabilities will fall through the cracks and lose transitional protection. What steps is the Minister taking to ensure that people with physical or mental disabilities are given the specialist help they need to migrate, and should we not delay migration until that is sorted?

[Guy Opperman]

There is extensive engagement with the various organisations, and the Department is working hard to ensure there is full support for the disabled claimant, whether that is through the severe disability premium or our recently announced universal support fund.