Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to protect the income of (a) universal credit claimants and (b) claimants in the Employment and Support Allowance Support Group when they engage in work-related activity.

Employment and Support Allowance claimants in the Support Group and Universal Credit claimants in receipt of the Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity element are not required to take part in work-related activity. They are however free to engage in work-related activity on a voluntary basis. If these claimants choose to engage in work-related activity the payment of their benefit will not be affected.