Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to support people with diverticulitis through the welfare system.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is an income replacement benefit, available for people with health conditions or disabilities, including diverticulitis who face barriers to work.

People claiming ESA are offered support through the Personal Support Package to help them move closer to the Labour Market. The package is for people with health conditions and disabilities, with a range of interventions and initiatives designed to provide support that is tailored to the individual needs of claimants.

Universal Credit (UC) is replacing Income-related ESA and the linked disability premiums, including the Severe Disability Premium. This is will simplify the benefits processes and better target support. UC claimants are assigned a dedicated Work Coach to support them throughout their claim. This builds relationships and trust, and means Work Coaches can identify and address any specific needs the claimant may have as a result of their health condition.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) provides a contribution towards the extra costs that disabled people can face and is assessed on needs arising rather than being condition specific. There are currently 620 people in receipt of PIP whose main disabling condition is recorded as being diverticular disease of diverticulitis.