Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to support disabled residents and families in Leicester East constituency.

The Department is taking multiple steps to support disabled residents and families across the country, including in Leicester East.

Financial support is available to people on low or no incomes through benefits, including additional support through Universal Credit for disabled adults, children and young people via the UC Health Element and the Disabled Child Addition. For disabled people looking to start, stay or succeed in work, Access to Work provides a demand-led personalised grant to support recruitment and retention in employment. We have also put in place the equivalent of over 1,000 full-time Pathways to Work advisers across Great Britain, offering tailored employment support.

Locally, through Jobcentre Plus and partnerships with local providers, we provide a range of support for disabled residents. This includes Connect to Work, our voluntary supported employment programme (more information is available here: Connect to Work for job seekers | Leicestershire County Council). We also deliver outreach through Belgrave Library and St Barnabas Library, alongside Family and Community Work Coaches who provide benefit and employment advice. Leicester Jobcentre Plus works closely with Connect to Work, WorkWell, Talking Therapies and Mental Health Individual Placement Support services to help disabled people access employment and health support. In addition, Schools Advisers and Disability Employment Advisers work with Leicester College, Gateway College and Ellesmere College to support disabled young people through Supported Internships and their transition into employment.