Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that severely disabled people unable to work will not be financially disadvantaged by the introduction of universal credit.

DWP understands that claimants with disabilities or health conditions may face extra challenges in their lives which cost money. Universal Credit is simpler and fairer than the legacy system and is designed to target resources at those that need them most.

Universal Credit makes the system easy to understand and focuses resources on those most in need. We have raised the level of support to those who are severely disabled or with the most serious health conditions. This gives substantially more support than the current support component in Employment and Support Allowance.

No-one who is already receiving disability benefits whose circumstances remain the same will lose out in cash terms as a direct result of the move to Universal Credit.

There will be transitional protection for those claimants with existing premiums whose Universal Credit would be less than under the old system where their circumstances remain the same.