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1672769
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2023-11-23more like thismore than 2023-11-23
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Social Security Benefits: Mental Health more like this
house id 2 more like this
legislature
25277
pref label House of Lords more like this
question text To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the efficacy of removing benefits from, and applying sanctions to, claimants with mental health conditions after 18 months in the context of their ‘Back To Work’ plan launched on 16 November. more like this
tabling member printed
The Marquess of Lothian more like this
uin HL555 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2023-12-06more like thismore than 2023-12-06
answer text <p>Claimants must meet certain requirements to receive their UC payment. These will be based on individual and household information and will take account of health, caring responsibilities, ongoing work or volunteering and any earnings. All requirements are set in discussion with the claimant and tailored to their capability and circumstances, making them realistic and achievable.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants are given every opportunity to explain why they failed to meet their agreed conditionality requirement before a decision is made. We recognise the importance of understanding how a mental health condition impacts someone’s ability to search for or prepare for work. Claimants with serious mental health conditions are typically placed in the No Work-Related Requirements regime and are exempt from any form of conditionality and sanctions.</p><p> </p><p>As announced in the Back to Work plan, individuals, following their completion of Restart, will have a Claimant Commitment review meeting with their work coach where new requirements will be set according to the claimants’ circumstances. Claimants will be expected to accept this revised Claimant Commitment in order to continue to receive their benefits. Should a claimant fail to accept their commitment within the 7-day period their claim will be closed as per the current process.</p><p> </p><p>Where a claimant in a conditionality regime fails to comply with a mandatory work-related requirement, they have the opportunity to provide good reason before a sanction decision is made. Additionally, a pre-referral quality check is in place to check for any known vulnerabilities before a claimant is referred for a sanction decision and following a referral, cases are reviewed to ensure that the mandatory requirement set was fair, and to check whether a conditionality easement should have been applied.</p><p>If a sanction is applied and the claimant disagrees with the decision, they can ask for this to be looked at again by way of a Mandatory Reconsideration. If they further disagree with the outcome of the Mandatory Reconsideration, they can raise an appeal for the sanction decision to be looked at by an independent tribunal.</p>
answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie remove filter
question first answered
less than 2023-12-06T13:20:56.997Zmore like thismore than 2023-12-06T13:20:56.997Z
answering member
4169
label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie more like this
tabling member
259
label Biography information for The Marquess of Lothian more like this
1672791
registered interest false more like this
date less than 2023-11-23more like thismore than 2023-11-23
answering body
Department for Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept id 29 more like this
answering dept short name Work and Pensions more like this
answering dept sort name Work and Pensions more like this
hansard heading Social Security Benefits: Chronic Illnesses and Disability more like this
house id 2 more like this
legislature
25277
pref label House of Lords more like this
question text To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Autumn Statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 22 November where he stated that if jobseekers "choose not to engage with the work search process for six months, we will close their case and stop their benefits" (HC Deb col 336), what steps they are taking to support individuals with health conditions and disabilities in finding employment. more like this
tabling member printed
Lord Taylor of Warwick more like this
uin HL577 more like this
answer
answer
is ministerial correction false more like this
date of answer less than 2023-12-06more like thismore than 2023-12-06
answer text <p>We are investing £2.5 billion over the next five years in our ‘Back to Work Plan’; this builds on the Government's existing package of support to create a more inclusive and productive labour market that helps disabled people, and people with health conditions, to start, stay and succeed in work. This support includes: a new WorkWell service to join up employment and health support at a local level, reforming the Fit Note process, delivering the Universal Support employment programme, improving the quality of occupational health for employers, and expanding access to mental health services.</p><p> </p><p>As part of the Autumn Statement, we also announced the intention to close the claim of those who have been disengaged for 6-months or more, where they are in receipt of a nil Universal Credit award following a sanction decision. We will not be closing the claims of anyone who is in receipt of other Universal Credit elements, such as the disability, child, or housing element. The conditionality and sanctions regime also does not apply to those in the No Work Related Requirements, such as those with a severe health condition or disability.</p><p> </p><p>For claimants who must meet certain work-related requirements to receive their Universal Credit payment, these requirements will be based on individual and household information and will take account of health, caring responsibilities, ongoing work or volunteering, and any earnings. Furthermore, all requirements are set in discussion with the claimant and tailored to their capability and circumstances, making them realistic and achievable.</p><p> </p>
answering member printed Viscount Younger of Leckie remove filter
question first answered
less than 2023-12-06T15:36:17.76Zmore like thismore than 2023-12-06T15:36:17.76Z
answering member
4169
label Biography information for Viscount Younger of Leckie more like this
tabling member
1796
label Biography information for Lord Taylor of Warwick more like this