Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 1 March 2017 to Question 65533, whether there will be a minimum number of minutes per year for which people in the employment and support allowance work-related activity group will receive support from their work coach.

Whilst we do not set out a minimum number of minutes a year, claimants moving into the work-related activity group (or the appropriate labour market regime in Universal Credit) will be offered support from a work coach. This includes an initial meeting with a work coach, which will provide tailored support for the claimant based on their individual circumstances and capabilities, with the aim of helping them prepare for work in the future. Follow up meetings will then be carried out, with the expectation that this support should be offered at least quarterly. The exact number of minutes of support will be based on the needs of the claimant.