Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average waiting time was for payment of universal credit for a claimant diagnosed with terminal cancer and a prognosis of less than six months to live in the most recent period for which figures are available.

The requested information is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

In these circumstances, for claimants who provide a DS1500 medical report, Universal Credit will determine that they have limited capability for work and work related activity (LCWRA) without the requirement to refer for a Work Capability Assessment. The additional amount for having LCWRA may be awarded, if not already done so, immediately.

If the claimant does not have a DS1500 but is diagnosed as terminally ill then we will fast track the Work Capability Assessment process so that the report is provided within 48 hours.