Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to explain to applicants at jobcentres the difference between (a) contribution-based and (b) income-based jobseekers allowance and employment and support allowance.
The Department has recently re-launched instructions to all staff, including those who work in jobcentres, to help them support customers in determining which benefits they are able to claim. This includes information about contributory benefits.
There are many sources of advice and information available about this issue for claimants. The Employment and Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance pages on Gov.UK include information about contributory based benefits. The content of these pages has recently been reviewed and improved and can be found at:
https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance