Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sherlock on 4 February (HL14073), what assessment they have made of the technical requirements to make the requested statistics on identity verification and work capability failure rates for claimants with learning disabilities "readily available" for future parliamentary scrutiny and improving service provision.

The Department holds Universal Credit data to support the safe and accurate delivery of benefit; primarily supporting the effective administration of claims, rather than detailed analytical reporting by disability type. Therefore, data does not currently show identity verification or work capability related outcomes segregated by claimant characteristics, such as learning disabilities. The latest published statistics for ‘Payment Timeliness’ are from October 2025, showing 93% received their payment on time and 88% their payment on time and in full.

Identity verification can be completed through a range of digital and non‑digital routes; with the majority of customers successfully verifying their identity. A proportion of customers disengage from the process before completion; however, this can occur for many reasons (including finding work/earning more) and does not necessarily indicate an inability to verify identity. Where customers have health conditions or learning disabilities, support is provided operationally through tailored help and reasonable adjustments. Any agreed adjustments are recorded on the customer’s account and reviewed regularly, ensuring support can be delivered consistently throughout the Universal Credit journey.

There is continued focus on accessibility and support, allowing claimants to transact via a variety of channels according to their needs, including offering non‑digital routes, reasonable adjustments and tailored help for customers who may struggle with the claims process. These measures are intended to support successful engagement and completion of claims with 88% paid on time at the end of the first assessment period.