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1281228

registered interest
date	27/01/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Employment: Health
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when she plans to publish the Government response to the consultation entitled, Health is everyone’s business: proposals to reduce ill health-related job loss, which closed on 7 October 2019.
tabling member constituency	North East Fife
tabling member printed	Wendy Chamberlain
uin	144850
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2021 answer text <p>The Government is committed to reducing the disability employment gap and supporting disabled people and those with health conditions to thrive at work. We received a good response from a range of stakeholders. The Government is considering the timing of the response in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We anticipate that a response will be available shortly.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 01/02/2021 13:27:27 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4765 label Biography information for Wendy Chamberlain

1280681

registered interest
date	26/01/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Employment: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department has taken to close the disability employment gap since April 2020.
tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
uin	143820
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/02/2021 answer text <p>A range of DWP initiatives are supporting disabled people to stay in and enter work. These include the Work and Health Programme, the Intensive Personalised Employment Support programme, Access to Work, Disability Confident and support in partnership with the health system, including Employment Advice in NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapy services.</p><p> </p><p>In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we have provided specialist employment support remotely and made programmes easier to access.</p><p> </p><p>The Department is bringing forward a Green Paper on health and disability support. The Green Paper will consider how we improve our current service so it’s better and easier to use, explore how we provide extra support to navigate the system, and understand how we improve our employment support offer. Additionally, the Government plans to publish a National Strategy for Disabled People this year to ensure that all disabled people can play a full role in society. The strategy will take into account the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on disabled people with focus on the issues that affect them the most.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 01/02/2021 13:22:15 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows

1279755

registered interest
date	25/01/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Terminal Illnesses
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What progress her Department is making on the publication of its review into access to benefits for people with a terminal illness, announced in July 2019.
tabling member constituency	Manchester, Withington
tabling member printed	Jeff Smith
uin	911289
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>The Department is working across Government on proposals, including potential legislative options, following the evaluation. I remain committed to implementing the key areas identified in the evaluation, changing the 6-month wait, improving awareness and consistency.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 25/01/2021 17:00:08 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4456 label Biography information for Jeff Smith

1279757

registered interest
date	25/01/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Social Security Benefits: Disability
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	What assessment she has made of the adequacy of benefit rates for disabled people on legacy benefits.
tabling member constituency	Arfon
tabling member printed	Hywel Williams
uin	911294
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/01/2021 answer text <p>We will spend over £55 billion this year (2020/21) on benefits to support people with health conditions and disabilities. This will increase by £1.6 billion to £57 billion in 2021/22.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 25/01/2021 16:45:43 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	1397 label Biography information for Hywel Williams

1279847

registered interest
date	25/01/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Employment and Support Allowance: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the 365 payment period for people affected by covid-19 and claiming new style or contributions based employment and support allowance and who have not had a decision made on their capability for work in that time.
tabling member constituency	Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale
tabling member printed	David Mundell
uin	142832
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 28/01/2021 answer text <p>The Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) temporary Coronavirus regulations mean that everyone infected with covid-19, or who is required to self-isolate in line with Government guidelines, will be treated as having Limited Capability for Work in ESA without the requirement for fit notes or a Work Capability Assessment (WCA). These measures also apply to clinically extremely vulnerable people who are unable to work from home and have been advised to shield in line with the relevant public health advice in England, Wales and Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>There are no plans to extend the time limit for people claiming contributory ESA who are affected by covid-19, and reach their 365-day limit. The majority of the covid-19 related claims will not reach this limit as they are for short periods.</p><p> </p><p>Where an individual requires further financial support, they may be able to claim Universal Credit, depending on their personal circumstances.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 28/01/2021 15:09:23 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	1512 label Biography information for David Mundell

1279590

registered interest
date	22/01/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment: Surveys
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will change the timing of Maximus' customer satisfaction survey for claimants undergoing assessments for work capability assessments.
tabling member constituency	Stockport
tabling member printed	Navendu Mishra
uin	142087
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2021 answer text <p>Assessment providers are monitored and managed against a range of measures, including customer satisfaction. It is essential we receive ongoing feedback from customers and we invite a random sample of customers to provide feedback on the service they receive each month.</p><p> </p><p>There are currently no plans to change the timing of the customer satisfaction survey.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 27/01/2021 17:14:45 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4811 label Biography information for Navendu Mishra

1279170

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support her Department is providing for claimants of (a) personal independence payment, (b) employment support allowance and (c) disablement pension where the health assessors find that a face-to-face interview is required but cannot be completed under covid-19 restrictions.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	141531
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2021 answer text <p>The safety of our claimants and staff is our key priority. As a result, all face to face assessments for sickness and disability benefits have remained suspended since March 2020. Throughout the pandemic, for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)/Universal Credit (UC) we have continued to assess people on paper evidence where we can as normal. We have also introduced telephone assessments and are working to increase the number of these assessments in order that we can make the right decision for as many people as possible, while keeping people safe.</p><p> </p><p>Where it is not possible to carry out a PIP telephone assessment we are making a decision based on all the evidence available to ensure any payment is not delayed. For ESA/UC, claimants will remain on their current award until we are able to gather the evidence needed for a recommendation to be made (or until contributory ESA ends)); any additional amounts the claimant may qualify for after their assessment will be backdated to ensure no long-term loss. Where an individual’s contributory ESA ends they may be able to claim Universal Credit, depending on their personal circumstances if they require further financial support.</p><p> </p><p>The question refers to ‘disablement pension’; we have understood that to refer to the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB). Following a successful trial, we have now begun paper based assessments in IIDB for certain prescribed diseases. To protect our most vulnerable claimants with the most serious health conditions we are continuing to process IIDB claims for people with terminal illnesses, and those for Fast Track prescribed diseases as they can be assessed without the need for a face to face assessment. Once face-to-face assessments resume, awards will be backdated to the date of application to ensure claimants do not lose out on funds they are entitled to.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 27/01/2021 13:18:46 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1279171

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate her Department has made of the number of claims for (a) personal independence payment, (b) employment support allowance and (c) disablement pension which are pending due to a face-to-face health and disability assessment in (i) Lewisham Deptford, (ii) London and (iii) the UK which cannot be completed under covid-19 restrictions.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	141532
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2021 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-01-21/141531" target="_blank">141531</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes Personal Independence Payment assessment data online which can be accessed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-independence-payment-statistics?_sm_byp=iVVWb5570W4jkbMj#content" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-independence-payment-statistics?_sm_byp=iVVWb5570W4jkbMj#content</a></p><p> </p><p>The PIP clearance times are available to October 2020 and can be focused down to region level. Any further geographical breakdowns are not available and to provide them would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes Employment Support Allowance (ESA) Work Capability Assessment (WCA) data online which can be accessed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-january-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-january-2021</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The ESA clearance times are available to June 2020 at a national level only. The clearance times are only currently available to March 2020, but can be focused down to region and local authority level. Any further geographical breakdowns are not available and to provide them would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The question enquires into ‘disablement pension’, we have understood that to refer to the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) which this Department administers<strong>. </strong>The Department publishes quarterly statistics on claims and assessments under IIDB scheme in Great Britain here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit-quarterly-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit-quarterly-statistics</a></p><p> </p><p>The latest claims information is to March 2020, with the lowest geographical level available of Region. Statistics to June 2020 will be published on 23 February 2021</p><p> </p><p>Further geographical breakdowns and average clearance times are not readily available and to provide them would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 141533 question first answered 29/01/2021 15:09:43 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1279172

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the average waiting time from submission to payment of claims was in each of the last 12 months for (a) personal independence payment, (b) employment support allowance and (c) disablement pension in (i) Lewisham Deptford, (ii) London and (iii) the UK where a face-to-face health and disability assessment is required.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	141533
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 29/01/2021 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to Question UIN <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2021-01-21/141531" target="_blank">141531</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes Personal Independence Payment assessment data online which can be accessed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-independence-payment-statistics?_sm_byp=iVVWb5570W4jkbMj#content" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/personal-independence-payment-statistics?_sm_byp=iVVWb5570W4jkbMj#content</a></p><p> </p><p>The PIP clearance times are available to October 2020 and can be focused down to region level. Any further geographical breakdowns are not available and to provide them would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The Department publishes Employment Support Allowance (ESA) Work Capability Assessment (WCA) data online which can be accessed here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-january-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-january-2021</a>.</p><p> </p><p>The ESA clearance times are available to June 2020 at a national level only. The clearance times are only currently available to March 2020, but can be focused down to region and local authority level. Any further geographical breakdowns are not available and to provide them would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The question enquires into ‘disablement pension’, we have understood that to refer to the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) which this Department administers<strong>. </strong>The Department publishes quarterly statistics on claims and assessments under IIDB scheme in Great Britain here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit-quarterly-statistics" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/industrial-injuries-disablement-benefit-quarterly-statistics</a></p><p> </p><p>The latest claims information is to March 2020, with the lowest geographical level available of Region. Statistics to June 2020 will be published on 23 February 2021</p><p> </p><p>Further geographical breakdowns and average clearance times are not readily available and to provide them would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 141532 question first answered 29/01/2021 15:09:43 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1279173

registered interest
date	21/01/2021
answering body	Department for Work and Pensions
answering dept id	29
answering dept short name	Work and Pensions
answering dept sort name	Work and Pensions
hansard heading	Work Capability Assessment: Coronavirus
house id	1
legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance has been given to health assessors carrying out health and disability assessments for new claims for (a) personal independence payment, (b) employment support allowance and (c) disablement pension submitted during covid-19 national lockdown.
tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
uin	141534
answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/01/2021 answer text <p>Personal Independence Payment (PIP) Health Professionals continue to deliver PIP assessments in accordance with the PIP Assessment Guide published on GOV.UK. The link to which I have included below:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-assessment-guide-for-assessment-providers</a></p><p> </p><p>Employment Support Allowance (ESA) Healthcare Professionals, continue to deliver ESA Work Capability Assessments (WCA) in accordance with the WCA Handbook published on GOV.UK. The link to which I have included below:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-capability-assessment-handbook-for-healthcare-professionals" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/work-capability-assessment-handbook-for-healthcare-professionals</a></p><p> </p><p>Our Assessment Providers, Independent Assessment Services (IAS), Capita and Centre for Health and Disability Assessments (CHDA) have supported their Health Professionals to carry out health and disability assessments throughout all COVID-19 lockdowns. Following the suspension of face to face assessments to ensure the safety of claimants, companions and staff, Health Professionals have been given additional training and guidance on conducting telephone assessments, which were introduced in PIP and ESA in response to COVID-19.</p><p> </p><p>I have interpreted Disablement Pension to mean Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB). The suspension of face to face assessments for IIDB means the majority of new claims are not being assessed at present. We continue to test new ways to carry out IIDB assessments and have now begun conducting paper based assessments for certain prescribed diseases.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 27/01/2021 13:54:51 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft