Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the policy paper, Transforming Support: The Health and Disability White Paper published on 15 March 2023, what steps his Department plans to take to involve disabled people in the design of the (a) health conditionality approach and (b) the health element’ of Universal Credit.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
We will continue to listen to, and to work closely with, disabled people, people with health conditions and many other partners, on how to deliver the proposals set out in The Health and Disability White Paper and reach our important shared goals.
We will also take time to test our proposals before rolling out on a wider scale.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the policy paper, Transforming Support: The Health and Disability White Paper, published 15 March 2023, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the introduction of a health conditionality approach on the number of disabled people required to (a) look for work and (b) undertake work preparation activity.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Our new approach will provide more personalised levels of conditionality and employment support, with the aim of helping people to reach their potential and live a more independent life. This more tailored approach will allow work coaches to build a relationship with an individual and determine what, if any, work-related activities an individual can participate in.
We will take time to carefully consider how best to implement these changes and take a test and learn approach with the new system before introducing it, to ensure it provides the taxpayer with value for money and is accessible and effective in delivering for our service users.
We will continue to listen to, and work closely with, disabled people, people with health conditions and many other partners, on how to best deliver these reforms.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the policy paper, Transforming Support: The Health and Disability White Paper, published 15 March 2023, whether he plans to take steps to ensure that people in the no work-related requirements group are not required to look for work after the introduction of the new health conditionality approach.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
We recognise that for many disabled people and people with health conditions, work or work-related activity is not possible or appropriate. These changes do not mean that everyone will be required to conduct work and work-related activity.
As part of the new approach to support, work coaches will have personalised conversations with claimants to determine their individual circumstances. This will mean that people will have their requirements tailored to their needs, which can include having no work-related requirements at all where appropriate.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who were not awarded the Personal Independence Payment following the initial decision and mandatory reconsideration stages were subsequently awarded a payment by a tribunal in each of the last five years; and how many and what proportion of those people were awarded at least one enhanced component.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Table 1 shows the number of individuals awarded Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at mandatory reconsideration (MR) stage, following an initial decision to not award PIP by the financial year of the initial decision. Volumes and proportions of this group receiving at least one enhanced component of PIP have also been provided.
Table 1
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of individuals awarded PIP at MR stage following an initial decision to not award PIP | Number of individuals awarded PIP at MR stage following an initial decision to not award PIP and receiving at least one enhanced component | Proportion of those awarded PIP at MR stage following an initial decision to not award PIP receiving at least one enhanced component |
2018/19 | 14,100 | 6,000 | 42% |
2019/20 | 24,000 | 9,500 | 40% |
2020/21 | 30,000 | 10,700 | 36% |
2021/22 | 24,100 | 7,600 | 31% |
2022/23* | 5,300 | 1,500 | 28% |
Table 2 shows the number of individuals awarded PIP at appeal tribunal, following an initial decision and mandatory reconsideration decision to not award PIP by the financial year of the initial decision. Volumes and proportions of this group receiving at least one enhanced component of PIP have also been provided.
Table 2
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of individuals awarded PIP at appeal tribunal following an initial decision and MR decision to not award PIP | Number of individuals awarded PIP at appeal tribunal following an initial decision and MR decision to not award PIP and receiving at least one enhanced component | Proportion of those awarded PIP at appeal tribunal following an initial decision and MR decision to not award PIP receiving at least one enhanced component |
2018/19 | 23,400 | 10,100 | 43% |
2019/20 | 18,300 | 7,700 | 42% |
2020/21 | 10,200 | 4,000 | 40% |
2021/22 | 11,800 | 4,900 | 42% |
2022/23* | 900 | 300 | 35% |
Please note:
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people who were not awarded Personal Independence Payment following an initial decision were subsequently awarded a payment following a mandatory reconsideration in each of the last five years; and how many and what proportion of those people were awarded at least one enhanced component.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Table 1 shows the number of individuals awarded Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at mandatory reconsideration (MR) stage, following an initial decision to not award PIP by the financial year of the initial decision. Volumes and proportions of this group receiving at least one enhanced component of PIP have also been provided.
Table 1
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of individuals awarded PIP at MR stage following an initial decision to not award PIP | Number of individuals awarded PIP at MR stage following an initial decision to not award PIP and receiving at least one enhanced component | Proportion of those awarded PIP at MR stage following an initial decision to not award PIP receiving at least one enhanced component |
2018/19 | 14,100 | 6,000 | 42% |
2019/20 | 24,000 | 9,500 | 40% |
2020/21 | 30,000 | 10,700 | 36% |
2021/22 | 24,100 | 7,600 | 31% |
2022/23* | 5,300 | 1,500 | 28% |
Table 2 shows the number of individuals awarded PIP at appeal tribunal, following an initial decision and mandatory reconsideration decision to not award PIP by the financial year of the initial decision. Volumes and proportions of this group receiving at least one enhanced component of PIP have also been provided.
Table 2
Financial Year of Initial Decision | Number of individuals awarded PIP at appeal tribunal following an initial decision and MR decision to not award PIP | Number of individuals awarded PIP at appeal tribunal following an initial decision and MR decision to not award PIP and receiving at least one enhanced component | Proportion of those awarded PIP at appeal tribunal following an initial decision and MR decision to not award PIP receiving at least one enhanced component |
2018/19 | 23,400 | 10,100 | 43% |
2019/20 | 18,300 | 7,700 | 42% |
2020/21 | 10,200 | 4,000 | 40% |
2021/22 | 11,800 | 4,900 | 42% |
2022/23* | 900 | 300 | 35% |
Please note:
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the policy paper entitled Transforming Support: The Health and Disability White Paper, published on 16 March 2023, if he will make it his policy to exempt people with (a) Parkinson's and (b) other progressive disabilities from increased Universal Credit conditionality.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
We published Transforming Support: The Health and Disability White Paper on 15th March 2023. This responds to feedback from The Health and Disability Green Paper consultation. These reforms will ensure that those who are able to can progress in, or towards, work, without the worry of being reassessed and losing their benefits.
We know that many disabled people want to work and could work with the right support; however, we recognise that, for many disabled people, and people with health conditions, work or work-related activity is not possible or appropriate and where this is the case, they will not be expected to participate in these activities to receive their benefit entitlement. We will also continue to work with disabled people, people with health conditions and their representatives as we develop this approach.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason decision makers grant fixed-term rather than indefinite awards of Disability Living Allowance to children with lifelong disabilities and health conditions where the condition is not expected to improve.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The length of an award of DLA is based on a claimant’s circumstances, taking into consideration that circumstances and needs can change over time, particularly those of children as they grow and develop and may become better able to meet some of their own care needs. Award reviews and renewals play an important role in making sure that children with health conditions and disabilities continue to get the level of financial support they need.
We keep our award duration guidance under review, responding to changes in claimant behaviour, changes in claimants’ needs and NHS waiting times. We have reviewed all our guidance and instructions to reduce the requirement for renewals for children whose conditions are unlikely to change.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of Universal Credit have Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity and do not receive Personal Independence Payments.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The department aims to publish a range of information on claimants of Employment and Support Allowance and the health element of Universal Credit in due course, and will pre-announce any publication in line with normal statistical practices.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of Personal Independence Payment receive Universal Credit and do not have Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The department aims to publish a range of information on claimants of Employment and Support Allowance and the health element of Universal Credit in due course, and will pre-announce any publication in line with normal statistical practices.
Asked by: Marsha De Cordova (Labour - Battersea)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2023 to Question 154053 on Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment, what steps he is taking to put in place safeguards to prevent vulnerable claimants’ claims falling out of payment.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Some claimants may not be able to engage effectively with the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims process due to vulnerability – for example, they may not understand the consequences of not returning a claim or review form and not have a personal acting body (PAB) to help them. Claimants identified as requiring additional support (AS) during the gathering of initial claim information, or at a later date in the claimant journey, can have an AS marker added to their claim. Elements of the PIP claims process have been adapted to provide further support for this group, including not disallowing them for non-return of a form.
The PIP Assessment Guide is guidance for health professionals carrying out assessments and includes a section (1.12) on identifying claimants who require AS to engage with the PIP application process.
We regularly review the use of the AS marker to ensure it continues to protect those who find it difficult to engage with the PIP process.