Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what procedures her Department has put in place for a submission of a Permitted Work 1 form by a disabled benefit claimant in the Support Group of Employment and Support Allowance to result in the issue of an ESA50 form and a call up for a Work Capability Assessment.

The permitted work rules are intended to provide encouragement and help to enable people to make a gradual move into full-time work. Anyone claiming Employment and Support Allowance can do permitted work for fewer than 16 hours per week and earn up to £125.50 per week, for an indefinite period, without it affecting their benefit entitlement.

There is no procedure in place which automatically links a request for permitted work to a Work Capability Assessment referral.