Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Q26 of the evidence given by Neil Couling to the Work and Pensions Select Committee on 10 January 2024, HC 417, whether it is his policy that where a claim is subject to checking that claim is not suspended and there is no interruption to payments so long as the claimant cooperates with that process.

Where customers provide all evidence requested, within the timescales requested, to enable DWP to verify entitlement to benefit then no payment will be interrupted. If the evidence is not provided within the timescale or there is a high risk of fraud and/or error DWP’s Enhanced Review Team (ERT) may suspend payments to prevent further loss and the customer to build up possible debt.