Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to page 10 of the Government response to the Work and Pensions Committee report on Benefit Delivery, published on 12 July 2016, HC 522, what evaluation his Department has carried out on changes to guidance for jobcentre staff handling claims from refugees; and when he plans to publish the findings of that evaluation.

The Department carried out an internal review in 2016. This confirmed the findings of an earlier DWP/Home Office review into why a significant number of asylum seeking refugees who are granted leave to remain, do not have benefits in payment at the end of their 28 day period of asylum support. The key finding was that they do not contact DWP early enough to enable their benefit claim to be processed before Home Office support ends.

These internal reviews are informing a DWP/Home Office pilot of an assisted transition from asylum support to benefits. The Department will write to the Work and Pensions Select Committee with an update later this year.