Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to her Department's guidance, Advice for decision-making: staff guide, updated on 15 February 2018, what assessment she has made of whether work-related activity includes (a) considering referrals to professional services, (b) researching local self-help centres and support groups appropriate to a claimant’s health condition and (c) looking at the Expert Patient Programme online and listing reasons on how it could benefit a claimant.

There has been no assessment made on whether work-related activity includes (a) considering referrals to professional services, (b) researching local self-help centres and support groups appropriate to a claimant’s health condition and (c) looking at the Expert Patient Programme online and listing reasons on how it could benefit a claimant.

Requirements agreed between work coaches and claimants are specifically designed to help the claimants engage with work, in whatever way might be appropriate for that individual. The requirements must be reasonable and they are tailored to the claimant’s individual needs. For many of our claimants work preparation activity involves addressing their particular challenges, which can include managing their health condition. We would not ask a claimant to carry out an activity which would carry a risk to the health of the claimant, nor would we ask for a claimant to undergo medical treatment as part of their requirements. We work hard to build supportive and open relationships with our claimants so that we can agree support tailored in the most effective possible way.