Asked by: Mike Reader (Labour - Northampton South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of amending the contribution condition in section 31 of the Pensions Act 2014 to provide for cases where the deceased was incapable of paid employment throughout their working life as a result of a lifelong disability.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The O'Donnell judgment concerned Northern Ireland legislation administered by the Department for Communities, so responsibility for responding to that judgment rested with the Northern Ireland authorities. Following the judgment, certain surviving partners in Northern Ireland could qualify for Bereavement Support Payment where the deceased had been unable to meet the contribution condition because of disability. Entitlement in Great Britain continued to be determined under the Great Britain legislative framework.
On 20 November 2025, the Supreme Court allowed the Secretary of State's appeal in R (Jwanczuk) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2025] UKSC 42. The Court held that the Bereavement Support Payment contribution condition does not unlawfully discriminate against surviving partners of people who were unable to work because of disability. The approach adopted in Northern Ireland following O'Donnell no longer applies in Northern Ireland as a result of that judgement.
The Department has not carried out an equality impact assessment following the judgment in the Jwanczuk Supreme Court case. The Department is not proposing changes to the policy as a result of that judgment.
The Department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the merits of introducing a disability exception to the Bereavement Support Payment contribution condition. Whilst there are no current plans to amend the contribution conditions, the Department keeps bereavement support policy under review.
Asked by: Mike Reader (Labour - Northampton South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department took in response to the judgment of the Court of Appeal in Northern Ireland in O'Donnell v Department for Communities [2020] NICA 36; and whether surviving partners in Northern Ireland are treated differently from those in Great Britain in respect of the contribution condition for Bereavement Support Payment.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The O'Donnell judgment concerned Northern Ireland legislation administered by the Department for Communities, so responsibility for responding to that judgment rested with the Northern Ireland authorities. Following the judgment, certain surviving partners in Northern Ireland could qualify for Bereavement Support Payment where the deceased had been unable to meet the contribution condition because of disability. Entitlement in Great Britain continued to be determined under the Great Britain legislative framework.
On 20 November 2025, the Supreme Court allowed the Secretary of State's appeal in R (Jwanczuk) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2025] UKSC 42. The Court held that the Bereavement Support Payment contribution condition does not unlawfully discriminate against surviving partners of people who were unable to work because of disability. The approach adopted in Northern Ireland following O'Donnell no longer applies in Northern Ireland as a result of that judgement.
The Department has not carried out an equality impact assessment following the judgment in the Jwanczuk Supreme Court case. The Department is not proposing changes to the policy as a result of that judgment.
The Department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the merits of introducing a disability exception to the Bereavement Support Payment contribution condition. Whilst there are no current plans to amend the contribution conditions, the Department keeps bereavement support policy under review.
Asked by: Mike Reader (Labour - Northampton South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has carried out an equality impact assessment of the contribution condition for Bereavement Support Payment in respect of surviving partners of people with lifelong disabilities following the judgment in R (Jwanczuk) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2025] UKSC 42.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The O'Donnell judgment concerned Northern Ireland legislation administered by the Department for Communities, so responsibility for responding to that judgment rested with the Northern Ireland authorities. Following the judgment, certain surviving partners in Northern Ireland could qualify for Bereavement Support Payment where the deceased had been unable to meet the contribution condition because of disability. Entitlement in Great Britain continued to be determined under the Great Britain legislative framework.
On 20 November 2025, the Supreme Court allowed the Secretary of State's appeal in R (Jwanczuk) v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2025] UKSC 42. The Court held that the Bereavement Support Payment contribution condition does not unlawfully discriminate against surviving partners of people who were unable to work because of disability. The approach adopted in Northern Ireland following O'Donnell no longer applies in Northern Ireland as a result of that judgement.
The Department has not carried out an equality impact assessment following the judgment in the Jwanczuk Supreme Court case. The Department is not proposing changes to the policy as a result of that judgment.
The Department has not undertaken a specific assessment of the merits of introducing a disability exception to the Bereavement Support Payment contribution condition. Whilst there are no current plans to amend the contribution conditions, the Department keeps bereavement support policy under review.
Asked by: Mike Reader (Labour - Northampton South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the (a) number of people who would become eligible for Bereavement Support Payment and (b) annual cost to the public purse if the contribution condition in section 31 of the Pensions Act 2014 were treated as satisfied where the deceased was incapable of work throughout their working life.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Producing robust estimates suitable for publication of the number of people who would become eligible for Bereavement Support Payment, or the associated annual cost to the public purse, in the circumstances described would require the Department to link several complex datasets and undertake extensive quality assurance and would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.
Asked by: Mike Reader (Labour - Northampton South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claims for Bereavement Support Payment have been refused on the grounds that the contribution condition was not met in each year since 2017.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Information on Bereavement Support Payment including the number of claims that were refused because the National Insurance contribution conditions were not met is available via Stat-Xplore.
Asked by: Mike Reader (Labour - Northampton South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he has assessed the potential impact of the freeze on Local Housing Allowance on levels of poverty among older private renters.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Asked by: Mike Reader (Labour - Northampton South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Get Britain Working White Paper, what assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of young people in supported housing becoming worse off when entering into employment because of benefit rules.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The income taper in Housing Benefit ensures people in work are better off than someone wholly reliant on benefits. In addition to any financial advantage, there are important non-financial benefits of working. These benefits include learning new skills, improved confidence and independence as well as a positive effect on an individual's mental and physical health.
Notwithstanding these positive outcomes from work, the Department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those residing in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation and receiving their housing support through Housing Benefit. The department will consider the issue carefully in partnership with stakeholders.
Asked by: Mike Reader (Labour - Northampton South)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the financial impact of reducing the housing benefit taper rate for people in supported housing.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government) (Equalities)
The income taper in Housing Benefit ensures people in work are better off than someone wholly reliant on benefits. In addition to any financial advantage, there are important non-financial benefits of working. These benefits include learning new skills, improved confidence and independence as well as a positive effect on an individual's mental and physical health.
Notwithstanding these positive outcomes from work, the Department acknowledges there is a challenge presented by the interaction between Universal Credit and Housing Benefit for those residing in Supported Housing and Temporary Accommodation and receiving their housing support through Housing Benefit. The department will consider the issue carefully in partnership with stakeholders.