Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with refence to paragraph 3.25 of the Autumn Statement 2023 on supporting the long-term unemployed into work, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of removing access to free prescriptions on levels of demand for acute care.

No assessment has been made as we are not removing access to free prescriptions.

In England, a broad range of NHS prescription charge exemptions are in place to help those with greatest need. Eligibility for these exemptions is dependent on whether people receive certain qualifying benefits, tax credits, or a war pension, whether they are pregnant or have recently had a baby, their age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education or have a qualifying medical condition.

If entitlement to passported benefits is reliant solely on a Universal Credit claim to establish eligibility, that eligibility will cease if the claim is closed. The claim closure measure will only impact claimants who have been disengaged for 6-months or more, and who are in receipt of nil benefit award following the application of a sanction. We will not be closing the claims of anyone who is in receipt of other UC elements, such as the housing, child, or disability elements.

The claims of those with limited capability for work or limited capability for work-related activity are not subject to the conditionality and sanctions regime.

Safeguards will be put in place to ensure that any claimant vulnerabilities are taken into consideration and impacted claimants may still be able to access financial support for NHS services through other means.