Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what considerations were made by his Department prior to removing payments for the limited capability for work element of universal credit for applications made after 3 April 2017.

The changes, which removed provision for the Employment and Support Allowance Work-related Activity Component and the Universal Credit Limited Capability for Work Element, were part of the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 and were subject to extensive parliamentary scrutiny.

The Department consulted the Social Security Advisory Committee; attended meetings with the Committee and considered their points about making sure that people who claimed Employment and Support Allowance, or Universal Credit on health related grounds, before 3 April 2017 were able to retain access to the additional payments thereafter.

Additionally, the Department held regular meetings throughout with stakeholders and sought feedback. This included inviting them to review the learning and development products, our operational guidance and written communications intended for claimants.

A Test and Learn approach has been implemented into Universal Credit which aims to continuously review and improve process, guidance and service.