Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason a single pensioner's household income could be less than that of a couple and the couple could be entitled to the Winter Fuel Allowance where the single pensioner was not.
Answered by Torsten Bell - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
Winter Fuel Payments are assessed and, where applicable, recovered on an individual basis rather than by reference to total household income. This reflects the structure of the personal tax system.
Winter Fuel Payments remain a simple scheme to provide a lump sum payment to the majority of pensioners quickly and automatically, without the need to claim. The system for withdrawing the Winter Fuel Payment for those with higher incomes is simple and cost-effective to deliver.
The £35,000 threshold means that more than three quarters of pensioners will benefit from the Winter Fuel Payment. The threshold is in line with average earnings and means those on lower and middle incomes are receiving the help they need whilst ensuring payments are better targeted than the previous near-universal payment; and ensuring fairness for both pensioners and taxpayers.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many (a) new and (b) existing claimants were waiting for a Universal Credit Work Capability Assessment in each month since January 2025.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department for Work and Pensions prioritises assessments for new claims to minimise waiting times and ensure claimants receive the right benefit entitlement as soon as possible. We are working with suppliers to increase capacity for clearing the backlog of reassessment cases, including by accelerating the recruitment of assessors.
The number of new claimants waiting for a Universal Credit (UC) Work Capability Assessment (WCA) in each month since January 2025 can be found in the table below.
Month | Outstanding UC WCAs |
Jan-25 | 220,000 |
Feb-25 | 220,000 |
Mar-25 | 220,000 |
Apr-25 | 210,000 |
May-25 | 200,000 |
Jun-25 | 210,000 |
Jul-25 | 210,000 |
Aug-25 | 210,000 |
Sep-25 | 210,000 |
Oct-25 | 230,000 |
Nov-25 | 240,000 |
Dec-25 | 250,000 |
The number of existing claimants waiting for an UC WCA in each month since January 2025 can be found in the table below.
Month | Outstanding UC WCAs |
Jan-25 | 89,000 |
Feb-25 | 90,000 |
Mar-25 | 91,000 |
Apr-25 | 92,000 |
May-25 | 92,000 |
Jun-25 | 93,000 |
Jul-25 | 89,000 |
Aug-25 | 88,000 |
Sep-25 | 87,000 |
Oct-25 | 83,000 |
Nov-25 | 81,000 |
Dec-25 | 63,000 |
Please note:
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what public funding has been allocated to union-led workplace learning in each of the past five years.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 13 March 2026 to Question UIN 117323.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much funding has been allocated to union-led workplace learning in each of the last five years.
Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
The previous government ended the standalone Union Learning Fund (ULF) on 31 March 2021. The Adult Skills Fund funds a very broad range of provision, including to support the effective operation of Trade Unions such as for Trade Union Health & Safety Representatives.
The Department is committed to working with employers, providers, and trade unions to ensure that high quality qualification and training pathways are meeting skills needs.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Universal Credit Work Capability Assessments were undertaken in each month since August 2025 for (a) new and (b) existing claimants.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The number of Universal Credit Work Capability Assessments undertaken in each month from August 2025 to December 2025 for a) new and b) existing claimants can be found in the table below:
| Aug 25 | Sep 25 | Oct 25 | Nov 25 | Dec 25 |
(a) New | 37,000 | 43,000 | 42,000 | 38,000 | 31,000 |
(b) Existing | 2,300 | 2,800 | 5,600 | 3,200 | 3,400 |
Please note: the volumes in the tables above have been rounded up to the nearest 1000/100.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average end-to-end clearance time for a Universal Credit Work Capability Assessment was in each month since January 2025 for (a) new and (b) existing claimants.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The department regularly publishes Universal Credit Work Capability Assessment statistics and the development of clearance times is detailed in the release strategy for those statistics. Further details on the future publication of clearance times will be published in the DWP Statistical Work Programme in due course.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking with the Chancellor of the Exchequer to co-produce policy changes to mobility allowances.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The PIP mobility element is in scope of the Timms Review, which aims to ensure PIP is fair and fit for the future.
We will co-produce the Review with disabled people, and their organisations to ensure lived experience is at the heart of its work. We will provide an update shortly.
We will not make changes to PIP eligibility, including for the mobility element, until the Review has concluded.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support disabled people who (a) are too ill to work and (b) score less than 3 points under Pathways to Work.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We have committed to introduce a new requirement that claimants must score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component of PIP. This will target PIP at people who have a higher level of functional need in at least one area. Our intention is that the changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval.
We are mindful of the impact this change to PIP eligibility could have on people. That is why we have committed that existing claimants who lose eligibility as a result of these changes will continue to receive PIP and its associated benefits and entitlements for 13 weeks following their award review. This protection is non-negotiable and will be included on the face of the Bill. This transitional cover is one of the most generous ever and more than three times the length of protection provided for the transition from DLA to PIP.
Meanwhile, in the Green Paper we are consulting on what else is needed to support those who lose entitlement due to the reforms, including how to make sure that health and eligible care needs are met.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will ensure that people in receipt of Carers Allowance will to continue to receive that allowance if the person being cared for is no longer in receipt of social security support.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Unpaid carers play a vital role in supporting people with long-term health conditions and disabilities, and this Government recognises and appreciates the vital contribution made by all unpaid carers. Carer’s Allowance recognises this contribution and reflects the reduced earnings potential of people providing unpaid care to a friend, neighbour or relative who is in receipt of an additional-needs disability benefit such as Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
As the Government introduces changes to PIP eligibility, it is mindful of the potential impact on unpaid carers. Under the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill we have committed to introduce a new requirement that claimants must score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component of PIP. This will target payments at people who have a higher level of functional need in at least one area. Our intention is that the changes will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. It also commits to providing a 13-week run-on for existing PIP claimants who – at their next award review – are no longer eligible for that benefit as a result of these changes. This is to allow for a longer period of adjustment. During this period, Carer’s Allowance will also continue to be payable where a friend, neighbour or relative is providing 35 hours or more of care to the PIP recipient.
The Government will continue to listen to views on wider support for people with long-term health conditions and disabilities, including support provided to them by unpaid carers.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she plans to take steps to ensure that work-trial schemes allow people to return to previous levels of social security if they are not successful.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
The DWP Work Trial scheme is one of several DWP initiatives that support jobseekers into sustainable work. Allowing some jobseekers who have successfully applied for a job, to do that job for a short unpaid period, whilst retaining benefits.
Specifically, a Work Trial can help jobseekers overcome any doubts about whether they can manage their new job alongside other commitments such as caring responsibilities or managing their disability or health condition. On top of this, DWP will offer to support the jobseeker with certain expenses incurred for the duration of the Work Trial.
Work Trials allow both the jobseeker and employer to ensure the job fits both parties before becoming an employee.
If the Work Trial does not result in ongoing employment the jobseeker will retain their benefit, and their entitlement does not change unless their circumstances do. More information on Work Trials can be found at https://www.gov.uk/jobcentre-plus-help-for-rcruiters/work-trials.