Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps are being taken to help claimants with autism apply for (a) employment support allowance and (b) personal independence payments.

The Department for Work and Pensions has an established approach for identifying and providing an appropriate level of support to all its vulnerable customers. We identify any “individual who is identified as having complex needs and/or requires additional support to enable them to access DWP benefits and use our services” as being vulnerable. This definition, which includes Autism Spectrum Disorders and Conditions, ensures that we have consistency and continuity in the type and level of service that is being offered and that it supports the customer appropriately whatever their individual needs.

We adopt this approach, at all points of contact with the customer, and use our records to ensure, where an individual is identified as being vulnerable we take all reasonable steps to try to mitigate any risks, for example by applying an additional support marker if a claimant to Personal Independence Payment is identified as having mental health issues and no support network to rely on. For ESA an example of this, along with other benefits, is by offering a face to face appointment.

We will continue to follow our established approach to working with the individual and with their consent, we will where necessary, contact any relevant organisations to provide the appropriate levels of support.

We continually monitor our product and services to ensure we are meeting the needs of our customers and where necessary make any changes that improve the level of service we provide.