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1713172

	registered interest
	date	23/04/2024
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what percentage of new Employment and Support Allowance claims have been completed within the planned processing timescales by (a) nation and (b) region in each year since 2010.
	tabling member constituency	Wallasey
	tabling member printed	Dame Angela Eagle
	uin	23131
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/05/2024 answer text <p>Table 1<strong> - Percentage of new claims that have been completed within the planned processing timescales by benefit.</strong></p><p> </p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong> </strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2016-17</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2017-18</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2018-19</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2019-20</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2020-21</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2021-22</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2022-23</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2023-24</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Jobseekers Allowance</strong></p></td><td><p>88.6%</p></td><td><p>86.8%</p></td><td><p>80.6%</p></td><td><p>53.1%</p></td><td><p>82.5%</p></td><td><p>87.1%</p></td><td><p>67.8%</p></td><td><p>58.7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Employment and Support Allowance</strong></p></td><td><p>84.6%</p></td><td><p>85.3%</p></td><td><p>73.3%</p></td><td><p>96.1%</p></td><td><p>70.9%</p></td><td><p>42.5%</p></td><td><p>47.4%</p></td><td><p>39.5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>State Pension</strong></p></td><td><p>87.9%</p></td><td><p>73.7%</p></td><td><p>86.8%</p></td><td><p>86.7%</p></td><td><p>76.2%</p></td><td><p>45.6%</p></td><td><p>72.0%</p></td><td><p>96.2%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Pension Credit</strong></p></td><td><p>71.0%</p></td><td><p>55.2%</p></td><td><p>53.4%</p></td><td><p>44.8%</p></td><td><p>88.2%</p></td><td><p>74.3%</p></td><td><p>45.7%</p></td><td><p>77.7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Disability Living Allowance (child)</strong></p></td><td><p>96.8%</p></td><td><p>96.5%</p></td><td><p>96.2%</p></td><td><p>91.3%</p></td><td><p>92.1%</p></td><td><p>35.6%</p></td><td><p>4.6%</p></td><td><p>3.5%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Personal Independence Payment </strong></p></td><td><p>85.1%</p></td><td><p>77.2%</p></td><td><p>72.3%</p></td><td><p>40.4%</p></td><td><p>23.0%</p></td><td><p>6.8%</p></td><td><p>38.4%</p></td><td><p>51.7%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Child Maintenance Service</strong></p></td><td><p>82.8%</p></td><td><p>87.4%</p></td><td><p>88.3%</p></td><td><p>91.6%</p></td><td><p>84.3%</p></td><td><p>84.3%</p></td><td><p>79.4%</p></td><td><p>79.6%</p></td></tr><tr><td><p><strong>Universal Credit</strong></p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>80.4%</p></td><td><p>85.2%</p></td><td><p>90.9%</p></td><td><p>85.7%</p></td><td><p>84.4%</p></td><td><p>TBC</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Comments to note:</strong></p><p> </p><ul><li>Data has been provided for the years 2016-17 to 2023-24 (UC 2018-19 to 2023-24). Previous years requested are not retained centrally and the breakdown by nation and region for services except UC would only be available at a disproportionate cost.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>In the spirit of answering the question we have provided table 1 above.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><p><strong>Service Performance Context:</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Jobseekers Allowance</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><ul><li>From the start of the pandemic until April 2021, JSA claims were subject to easements that meant face-to-face appointment was removed. In April 2021, Claimant Commitments and regular face to face engagement requirements were reintroduced.</li></ul><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Employment and Support Allowance</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><ul><li>ESA 2019-20 to 2023-24, the new claim process for New Style Employment and Support Allowance (NSESA) changed. In April 2020 a digital claim was introduced during Covid. Prior to this, as part of the new claim process, a period up to 10 days at beginning was never measured. With the re-designed process all time is included, so it is not possible to make a like-for-like comparison with the new claim process before April 2020.</li></ul><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>State Pension</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><ul><li>Performance was severely impacted due to the need to repivot resource to other areas, such as Universal Credit, during the global pandemic. In 2021/22, resource was re-deployed to work through the backlogs. Investment in digital services in this area has also aided recovery leading to significant performance improvements in 2023/24.</li></ul><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Pension Credit</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><ul><li>2019/20 was impacted by substantial spikes in claims following the BBC decision to remove free TV licences. Uptake in Pension Credit has been encouraged through campaigns and again led to unprecedented claims being received when entitlement was linked to additional Cost of Living payments. This created backlogs and impacted payment timeliness as these were recovered.</li></ul><p> </p><p><strong>Disability</strong><strong> Living Allowance (Child) </strong></p><p> </p><ul><li>Disability Living Allowance ceased in 2013 and is no longer an active benefit, it was replaced by Personal Independence Payment. Disability Living Allowance for Children continues to accept new claims and as such we have responded in respect of this benefit.</li><li>Demand for Child DLA has increased in recent years and is significantly higher than pre-pandemic volumes.</li><li>During 2020-21 we deferred case renewal activity to focus on processing new claims. Since then the service has had to service both high new claims volumes and the deferred renewal work which has led to longer processing times.</li><li>We have increased the numbers of staff working on Child DLA to respond to increase new claims volumes, and clear cases in date order to ensure fair customer service.</li></ul><p> </p><p><strong>Personal Independence Payment</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><ul><li>PIP performance represents a significant recovery compared to prior periods and the lowest average journey time recorded since 2018 (see <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-statistics-to-january-2024" target="_blank">published statistics</a>)</li><li>PIP New Claims demand is significantly higher than pre-Covid levels, despite the devolution of Scottish claims during this period.</li></ul><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Child Maintenance Service</strong></p><ul><li>Child Maintenance Service application volumes have been sharply increasing with CMS receiving more than 50% more in 2023/24 than in 2021/22. This dip in performance over this time can largely be explained by this. More recently, the removal of the Application fee has also resulted in higher volumes.</li></ul><p> </p><p><strong>Universal Credit </strong></p><p> </p><ul><li>Data has been provided for the years 2018-19 to 2023-24. Detailed data by local areas is available via Stat Xplore within the Universal Credit Published Statistics (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics" target="_blank">Universal Credit statistics - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>). Previous years requested are not retained centrally or published and the breakdown by nation and region would only be available at a disproportionate cost.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>The 2023-24 figures for UC are not available until May as per the Statistics Release schedule.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p><ul><li>Planned timescales for all benefits are listed in table 2 below.</li></ul><p> </p><p><strong>Table 2: Planned Timescales for new claims (current methodology)</strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Jobseekers Allowance</p></td><td><p>Within 10 working days</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Employment and Support Allowance</p></td><td><p>Within 10 working days</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>State Pension</p></td><td><p>Within 20 working days of State Pension entitlement date or 20 working days of Initial date of claim if claiming after entitlement has started.</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Pension Credit</p></td><td><p>Within 50 working days</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Disability Living Allowance (Child)</p></td><td><p>Within 40 working days</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Personal Independence Payment</p></td><td><p>Within 75 working days</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Child Maintenance Service</p></td><td><p>Payment within 12 weeks</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Universal Credit</p></td><td><p>% Full Payment 1st Assessment Period</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong>Notes:</strong> The planned timescales detailed above relate to those used for the 23/24 financial year. The timescales and methodologies to calculate them have changed over time to reflect new processes, technology and demands on our services.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard grouped question UIN 23130 23132 23133 23134 23135 23136 23137 question first answered 01/05/2024 14:37:14 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	491 label Biography information for Dame Angela Eagle

1701078

	registered interest
	date	15/04/2024
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of increasing the permitted working hours criteria for Employment and Support Allowance.
	tabling member constituency	Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
	tabling member printed	Drew Hendry
	uin	21711
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 18/04/2024 answer text <p>There are currently no plans to increase the permitted work hours limit. The ESA permitted work rules strike a balance between encouraging claimants to build their confidence, undertake some part-time paid work, and plan a gradual move to sustained employment, while continuing to receive benefit. The permitted work earnings limit is reviewed annually and uprated in line with the National Living Wage.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 18/04/2024 10:23:52 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4467 label Biography information for Drew Hendry

1698640

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an estimate of how many people entitled to the Employment and Support Allowance did not claim it in (a) 2018, (b) 2019, (c) 2020 and (d) 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
	uin	20448
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2024 answer text <p>Estimates for the number of entitled non-recipients and caseload take-up are available for income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Income Support (IS) up to financial year 2018/19. These can be found <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/income-related-benefits-estimates-of-take-up-financial-year-2018-to-2019" target="_blank">here.</a> Figures for 2018/19 were affected by no new claims for income-related ESA and IS from December 2018 as a result of Universal Credit rollout. No figures have been published for ESA/IS since 2018/19 due to the roll out of Universal Credit.</p><p> </p><p>No estimates of the volume of entitled non-recipients of New Style (contributory) ESA have been made.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 19/04/2024 12:51:57 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1698641

	registered interest
	date	25/03/2024
	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
	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 make an assessment of the potential merits of extending the eligibility National Insurance criteria for Employment and Support Allowance to people who have paid National Insurance contributions over two full tax years in their lives.
	tabling member constituency	Warrington North
	tabling member printed	Charlotte Nichols
	uin	20449
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 19/04/2024 answer text <p>New Style Employment and Support Allowance (NS ESA) is a benefit for individuals with a limited capability to work based on the individual’s recent National Insurance (NI) record.</p><p> </p><p>Normally, to be entitled to NS ESA, a claimant has to satisfy two NI conditions:  to have worked and paid enough NI contributions in one of the two tax years prior to claiming NS ESA for at least 26 weeks; and to have either paid, or been credited with, enough NI contributions in both of the two tax years prior to claiming NS ESA that is at least 50 times the minimum threshold.</p><p> </p><p>Looking at the most recent tax years, ensures people have a recent record of paid contributions and therefore a close link with the labour market.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 19/04/2024 12:49:50 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4799 label Biography information for Charlotte Nichols

1689333

	registered interest
	date	16/02/2024
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of transition of claimants from Incapacity Benefit to the Employment and Support Allowance; and what assessment he has made of the potential impact of that transition on claimants' accruals of National Insurance credits.
	tabling member constituency	Harborough
	tabling member printed	Neil O'Brien
	uin	14253
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/02/2024 answer text <p>All Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimants receive Class 1 National Insurance Credits as part of their award. If any claimants believe that an error has been made in the award of these credits they should contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).</p><p>ESA was introduced in October 2008. From March 2011, the DWP began reassessing people on incapacity benefits (for example, Incapacity Benefit (IB) and Severe Disablement Allowance (SDA) ahead of moving them onto ESA.</p><p>The DWP made an historic error with the reassessment of IB cases when they were transferred onto ESA. This arose because the Department converted some IB and SDA claimants to Contributory ESA but did not consider whether they may also have been entitled to Income-Related ESA. A Legal Entitlement and Administrative Practices (LEAP) exercise was concluded in June 2021, the exercise reviewed around 600,000 cases and made 118,000 arrears payments, totalling £613 million pounds. Those claimants who have received arrears payments would have been entitled to receive National Insurance credits from the date they were transferred onto contributory ESA. The then Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work made a statement about the completion of this LEAP to the house on 7th July 2021. This statement can be found <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2021-07-12/hcws171" target="_blank">here.</a></p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 27/02/2024 10:52:46 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4679 label Biography information for Neil O'Brien

1689356

	registered interest
	date	16/02/2024
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, which companies (a) were involved in designing and (b) are involved in maintaining the technology programmes used to manage (i) the Employment and Support Allowance, (ii) the transition from Incapacity Benefit to the Employment and Support Allowance and (iii) National Insurance credits for Employment and Support Allowance claimants.
	tabling member constituency	Harborough
	tabling member printed	Neil O'Brien
	uin	14255
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/02/2024 answer text <p>The following companies were involved alongside DWP in the design and maintenance of (i) Employment and Support Allowance, (ii) the transition from Incapacity Benefit to the Employment and Support Allowance and (iii) National Insurance credits for Employment and Support.</p><p> </p><p>The Employment and Support allowance (ESA) service was initially designed by Electronic Data Systems (EDS) who later became Hewlett Packard Enterprise Systems (HPES) in August 2008, working with DWP to implement it.</p><p> </p><p>HPES continued to maintain and support ESA until 2016 when the Government company BPDTS Ltd (Benefits and Pensions Digital Technology Services) was established to provide digital technology services to the DWP. The Company’s employees were public servants who provided a full range of digital technology services to DWP. BPDTS was formally classified as a non-departmental public body. BPDTS colleagues were subsequently transferred into DWP in 2021.</p><p> </p><p>The ESA benefit is now developed and maintained by an in-house DWP team.</p> answering member constituency Blackpool North and Cleveleys answering member printed Paul Maynard question first answered 22/02/2024 14:51:44 answering member 3926 label Biography information for Paul Maynard
	tabling member	4679 label Biography information for Neil O'Brien

1669660

	registered interest
	date	13/11/2023
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people left the Employment and Support Allowance Support Group in each of the last twelve months for which data is available.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	1650
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/11/2023 answer text <p>The following table shows the volume of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Support Group (SG) claimants who left the SG, in each of the last twelve months for which data is available.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Volume of ESA claimants who left the SG by month.</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>Month</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>Volume</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Apr-22</p></td><td><p>11,400</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>May-22</p></td><td><p>12,000</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jun-22</p></td><td><p>11,500</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jul-22</p></td><td><p>10,700</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Aug-22</p></td><td><p>10,700</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Sep-22</p></td><td><p>10,800</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Oct-22</p></td><td><p>11,100</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Nov-22</p></td><td><p>10,800</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Dec-22</p></td><td><p>10,400</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Jan-23</p></td><td><p>10,700</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Feb-23</p></td><td><p>9,800</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Mar-23</p></td><td><p>11,600</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Volumes have been rounded to the nearest 100.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 21/11/2023 14:30:25 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1610218

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2023
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether he plans to review the operation of (a) income-based ESA or (b) contribution-based ESA following the abolition of the Work Capability Assessment announced in Transforming Future Support: The Health and Disability White Paper published in March 2023.
	tabling member constituency	St Albans
	tabling member printed	Daisy Cooper
	uin	180351
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/04/2023 answer text <p>Our income replacement benefit proposals, as set out in Transforming Support: The Health and Disability White Paper, will apply to Universal Credit. It is not possible to submit a new claim for income-related ESA.</p><p> </p><p>As part of our proposal to improve the design of the benefits system, the UK Government is committed to maintaining a contributory health and disability benefit. We are currently reviewing options on how this can be incorporated within the reforms set out in the White Paper.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 24/04/2023 14:58:52 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4769 label Biography information for Daisy Cooper

1607893

	registered interest
	date	27/03/2023
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Employment Support Allowance claimants are in (a) the Work-Related Activity Group and (b) the Support Group on the basis of substantial risk.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	174376
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/04/2023 answer text <p>Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimants can be placed in the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) or the Support Group (SG) on the basis of substantial risk to the physical or mental health of any person, as set out in the regulations 29 (2[b]) and 35(2) of the Employment and Support Allowance Regulations 2008 (SI 794).</p><p> </p><p>The table below shows the latest available number of claimants with ESA in payment in the WRAG and SG, who have been placed in those groups following a recommendation from a health professional following a Work Capability Assessment (WCA), that they be placed in those groups on the basis of physical or mental health risk.</p><p> </p><p>Data on cases that are placed in the WRAG or SG on the basis of physical or mental health risk by the DWP decision maker, after reconsideration or after appeal (where that was not the recommendation of the health professional undertaking the WCA), are held, but could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p> </p></td><td><p>Claimants with ESA in payment, Aug-22</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Support Group - Physical or Mental Health Risk</p></td><td><p>253,100</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>WRAG - Physical or Mental Health Risk</p></td><td><p>24,500</p></td></tr></tbody></table> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 04/04/2023 13:08:22 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1601313

	registered interest
	date	06/03/2023
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of including the type and nature of ESA awards on departmental written communications.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	158923
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2023 answer text <p>ESA entitlement letters explain what a customer’s ESA is based on and contain information on relevant components. The DWP has a specific resource currently reviewing the suite of ESA letters to improve language and content where appropriate.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 13/03/2023 17:47:00 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1601317

	registered interest
	date	06/03/2023
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what system is used to produce standardised letters for ESA recipients.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	158924
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/03/2023 answer text <p>The Jobseekers Allowance Payments System which hosts Employment and Support Allowance, produces notifications based on the individual circumstances of each case which would require a letter to be sent to a customer. These notifications are then transferred in bulk to the third-party supplier responsible for bulk print management services in DWP. The third-party supplier then produces individual letters which are then sent out to those customers or their representatives.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 13/03/2023 18:00:51 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1585249

	registered interest
	date	08/02/2023
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what data his Department collects on the work of the employment support programme in the 20 challenge areas.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	142711
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/02/2023 answer text <p>We use the ONS Annual Population Survey Data as per the link below:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/query/construct/summary.asp?mode=construct&amp;version=0&amp;dataset=17" target="_blank">https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/query/construct/summary.asp?mode=construct&amp;version=0&amp;dataset=17</a></p><p> </p><p> </p><p>And encourage Districts as part of their ‘business as usual’ to gather a strong evidence base / clear picture of the needs in their area using all sources of information covering the customer characteristics, employers and partners, labour market trends and funding opportunities. They work collaboratively with employers and partners to co-design new solutions and address any issues identified.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 20/02/2023 17:06:02 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1582879

	registered interest
	date	01/02/2023
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that all claimants are made aware of permitted work and the PW1 form.
	tabling member constituency	Feltham and Heston
	tabling member printed	Seema Malhotra
	uin	137894
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/02/2023 answer text <p>The Employment and Support Allowance permitted work rules strike a balance between encouraging claimants to build their confidence, undertake some part-time paid work, and plan a gradual move to sustained employment, while continuing to receive benefits; and, on the other hand, providing the incentive to move off benefits entirely and into full-time work.</p><p> </p><p>People can find information about permitted work and the PW1 form on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-and-support-allowance-permitted-work-form" target="_blank">GOV.UK</a>, or by talking to their Work Coach. If <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/employment-and-support-allowance-permitted-work-form" target="_blank">GOV.UK</a> is not an option, Work Coaches can issue a PW1 form and a guidance leaflet (DWPFO1) to the claimant.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 08/02/2023 16:56:52 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4253 label Biography information for Seema Malhotra

1579793

	registered interest
	date	23/01/2023
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people stopped receiving Employment and Support Allowance as a result of gaining employment in each of the last five years.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	129826
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/01/2023 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Information on ESA exit reasons is not readily available for analytical use. Therefore, providing such information would require the matching of several databases, and would take a disproportionate amount of time to locate and produce.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 26/01/2023 15:50:06 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1546828

	registered interest
	date	30/11/2022
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what was the total (a) expenditure on and (b) number of benefit claimants receiving Employment Support Allowance in each of the last five years, in (i) England, (ii) Scotland, (iii) Wales, (iv) Northern Ireland, (v) each local authority and (vi) each constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath
	tabling member printed	Neale Hanvey
	uin	100001
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 05/12/2022 answer text <p>The information to answer parts (a) i)-iii), v) and vi) of the question can be found in the benefit expenditure and caseload tables (<a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2021" target="_blank">Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a>). Data for 2021/22 will be published in due course.</p><p> </p><p>Information on the number of claimants who received Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) in the last five years, broken down by various geographies in Great Britain, is published and can be found on <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/jsf/login.xhtml?invalidSession=true&amp;reason=AdminSessionHelper+not+found." target="_blank">Stat-Xplore</a>.</p><p> </p><p>Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found <a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html" target="_blank">here.</a> An account is not required to use Stat-Xplore; the ‘Guest Login’ feature gives instant access to the main functions.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Communities is responsible for Employment and Support Allowance in Northern Ireland.</p> answering member constituency Corby answering member printed Tom Pursglove question first answered 05/12/2022 16:38:16 answering member 4369 label Biography information for Tom Pursglove
	tabling member	4782 label Biography information for Neale Hanvey

1523925

	registered interest
	date	18/10/2022
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how the £1.3 billion investment over three years in employment support for disabled people and people with health conditions announced by her Department in May 2022 will be spent.
	tabling member constituency	Leicester South
	tabling member printed	Jonathan Ashworth
	uin	65798
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 26/10/2022 answer text <p>This government is committed to helping disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay, and succeed in work.</p><p> </p><p>The £1.3 billion will fund the right support in the right place to meet each individual’s needs, with an increased focus on upstream intervention to promote retention and engagement when people fall out of work. This comprises Jobcentre Plus delivered employment support and provision, rolling out successful trials through health and social care settings and working with employers and stakeholders to support people to remain in work</p><p><br> Within Jobcentres, on top of existing activity, we’re increasing Work Coach support across England, Scotland and Wales for people with health conditions receiving Universal Credit or Employment Support Allowance. This will enable disabled people to access employment and wider skills support, and our employment programmes earlier. We have begun to offer this support in one-third of Jobcentres and will roll out wider from 2023</p><p><br> DWP and DHSC continue to work together to support work and health outcomes. This includes expanding employment support within NHS Improving Access to Psychological Therapy (IAPT) services to the whole of England over this spending review period</p><p> </p><p>We will deliver on measures to minimise the risk of ill health related job loss, as set out in the response to the DWP/DHSC consultation <em>Health is Everyone’s Business</em>. We continue to work with small businesses to support them, including delivering a national information and advice service for employers, providing better integrated and tailored guidance on managing health and disability in the workplace.</p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho question first answered 26/10/2022 17:00:00 answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho
	tabling member	4244 label Biography information for Jonathan Ashworth

1507684

	registered interest
	date	22/09/2022
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 7 September 2022 to Question 45546 on Employment and Support Allowance, whether her Department has contacted every person eligible for compensation.
	tabling member constituency	Ceredigion
	tabling member printed	Ben Lake
	uin	54632
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 11/10/2022 answer text <p>As part of the IB to ESA reassessment LEAP exercise the department reviewed around 600,000 cases and made 118,000 arrears payments amounting to over £600m.</p><p> </p><p>Special payments for maladministration are made in line with the Department’s Special Payments policy. Where an individual feels they may be eligible for a Special Payment, they can contact the Department and set out their reasons. All requests received will be considered on a case-by-case basis.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency East Surrey answering member printed Claire Coutinho question first answered 11/10/2022 12:12:43 answering member 4806 label Biography information for Claire Coutinho
	tabling member	4630 label Biography information for Ben Lake

1507142

	registered interest
	date	20/09/2022
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 16 September 2022 to Question 45008 on Employment Support Allowance, where the information on the total value of compensation payments made following underpayment of Employment Support Allowance is held if not centrally.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	51846
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 27/09/2022 answer text <p>There is no requirement to record payments in respect of Employment and Support Allowance underpayment cases separately from other Special Payments. Straightforward, low value Special Payment decisions are completed at, and retained by, individual Service Centres. Complex or higher value payments are considered by the National Special Payment Team who would hold the decision record.</p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 27/09/2022 09:59:03 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1503378

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2022
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the report entitled An investigation into the Department for Work and Pensions’ handling of Ms U’s migration to Employment and Support Allowance, published by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman on 13 January 2022, for what reason her Department has not implemented the recommendation to pay compensation to people who were underpaid Employment Support Allowance beyond the arrears owed.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	45034
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2022 answer text <p>The Department carefully considers all recommendations made by the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO). This case is no different, and following the publication of the report, we took swift action to apologise unreservedly to Ms U for the failures made in her case and paid her the recommended consolatory payment plus interest on the arrears that were paid in 2017 as recommended in the PHSO report.</p><p> </p><p>With regards to the other systemic recommendations on compensation made in the report the Department does not consider these to be a reasonable or proportionate course of action to take. We have ensured people have been rightly reimbursed arrears of Employment and Support Allowance owed as part of the special exercise, making 118,000 benefit arrears payments in full.</p><p> </p><p>Where an individual feels their circumstances are exceptional and they may be eligible for a Special Payment, they can contact the Department and set out their reasons. All requests received will be considered on a case-by-case basis.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 16/09/2022 16:17:53 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1503379

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2022
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total value of compensation payments made following underpayment of Employment Support Allowance.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	45008
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2022 answer text <p>The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 16/09/2022 16:09:26 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1503380

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2022
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has taken steps to to identify and inform claimants affected by underpayment of Employment Support Allowance of the right to request compensation.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	45037
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2022 answer text <p>The Employment and Support Allowance underpayment exercise was completed in June 2021. We have ensured people have been rightly identified and reimbursed arrears owed, making 118,000 benefit arrears payments in full.</p><p> </p><p>Given our duty to protect public money the decision was taken not to award blanket compensation for these cases. However, where an individual feels their circumstances are exceptional and they may be eligible for a Special Payment, they can contact the Department and set out their reasons. All requests received will be considered on a case-by-case basis.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 16/09/2022 16:44:51 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1503892

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2022
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of people affected by the underpayment of benefits after transitioning from incapacity benefit to employment and support allowance have (a) applied for and (b) received compensation; and whether her Department has contacted every person eligible for compensation.
	tabling member constituency	Ceredigion
	tabling member printed	Ben Lake
	uin	45546
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/09/2022 answer text <p>The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 07/09/2022 11:21:16 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4630 label Biography information for Ben Lake

1504554

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2022
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people contacted her Department to request compensation for the underpayment of Employment Support Allowance since December 2017.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	45951
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2022 answer text <p>The information requested is not available.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 16/09/2022 17:33:14 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1504555

	registered interest
	date	02/09/2022
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many and what proportion of requests made to her Department for compensation for the underpayment of Employment Support Allowance were (a) granted, (b) rejected and (c) still under consideration as on 2 September 2022.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	45952
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/09/2022 answer text <p>The information requested is not collated centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Banbury answering member printed Victoria Prentis question first answered 16/09/2022 17:36:37 answering member 4401 label Biography information for Victoria Prentis
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1470169

	registered interest
	date	14/06/2022
	answering body	Treasury
	answering dept id	14
	answering dept short name	Treasury
	answering dept sort name	Treasury
	hansard heading	Employment and Support Allowance
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether people on Contributory Employment and Support Allowance are eligible for (a) the Energy Bills Support Scheme, (b) the Warm Home Discount Scheme and (c) Cold Weather Payments.
	tabling member constituency	South Shields
	tabling member printed	Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck
	uin	17945
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2022 answer text <p>All households with a domestic electricity meter will receive a universal rebate of £400 through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. This is a doubling of the £200 of support announced in February, and there will no longer be any repayments.</p><p> </p><p>In England and Wales, the £150 Warm Home Discount is targeted to all recipients of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit and also those households who receive means-tested benefits and whose homes are estimated to have the highest energy requirements. In Scotland, the £150 Warm Home Discount is also targeted to all recipients of Pension Credit Guarantee Credit and then certain low income and vulnerable households can apply to their energy supplier to receive the £150 rebate.</p><p> </p><p>The qualifying income-related benefits for the £25 Cold Weather Payments are Pension Credit, Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, and Universal Credit. There are additional qualifying conditions that have to be met to receive the payment.</p> answering member constituency Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland answering member printed Mr Simon Clarke question first answered 20/06/2022 10:21:19 answering member 4655 label Biography information for Sir Simon Clarke
	tabling member	4277 label Biography information for Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck

1469606

	registered interest
	date	13/06/2022
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of not providing supplementary fuel payments to people who receive Contributory Employment and Support Allowance on those claimants.
	tabling member constituency	Falkirk
	tabling member printed	John McNally
	uin	16994
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/06/2022 answer text <p>Winter Fuel Payments are an age-related payment payable to those who have reached state pension age. The payment provides reassurance to older customers that Government help is available during the winter months to help with their energy bills. This winter 2022/23 winter fuel payments will be increased by £300 and households with someone of state pension age and under 80 will receive £500 and households with someone aged 80 or over will receive £600.</p><p> </p><p>Cold Weather Payments are made to people in receipt of certain income-related benefits. People who receive contribution-based benefits, such as contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance, are not eligible for Cold Weather Payments. This is because the Cold Weather Payment scheme was specifically designed to target the most vulnerable people in society, by providing help with additional heating costs during periods of severe weather. The Government firmly believes that the fairest way of managing this is by linking eligibility to income-related benefits, as this ensures that public funds are used in the most effective way possible.</p> answering member constituency Hexham answering member printed Guy Opperman question first answered 20/06/2022 14:21:50 answering member 4142 label Biography information for Guy Opperman
	tabling member	4424 label Biography information for John McNally

1457665

	registered interest
	date	14/04/2022
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many letters have been sent from her Department in the last 12 months that ask GPs to no longer provide their patients who claim Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) with fit notes, as they have been found fit for work by the DWP.
	tabling member constituency	Halifax
	tabling member printed	Holly Lynch
	uin	154182
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/04/2022 answer text <p>We have taken your question to refer to the ESA65B letter which is normally automatically issued to GPs by the Department’s IT system in every case where an Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimant has been found ‘fit for work’ following a Work Capability Assessment (WCA).</p><p> </p><p>If a claimant states that they do not agree to information about the determination of their WCA being shared with their GP, the claim will be maintained clerically and the papers noted that the letter is not to be issued.</p><p> </p><p>A revised version of the ESA65B letter went live in June 2019. The revised letter states the circumstances in which fit notes are required including to support Employment and Support Allowance appeals, where a claimant’s condition has worsened or if the claimant has developed a new health condition or disability.</p><p> </p><p>The Department does not hold information on the number of ESA65B letters sent to GPs.</p><p> </p><p>The latest ESA statistics, which show the number of claimants found fit for work, can be found here: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2022/esa-work-capability-assessments-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2022" target="_blank">ESA: Work Capability Assessments, Mandatory Reconsiderations and Appeals: March 2022 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 21/04/2022 15:10:12 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4472 label Biography information for Holly Lynch

1437518

	registered interest
	date	02/03/2022
	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
	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 is taking to offer greater support to claimants of employment and support allowance in response to the rise in the cost of living.
	tabling member constituency	Weaver Vale
	tabling member printed	Mike Amesbury
	uin	133278
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 14/03/2022 answer text <p>The Government understands that people are concerned about pressure on household budgets and is taking action to help. Alongside the £9.1 billion Energy Bills Rebate announced on 3 February, it is providing £12 billion of support over this financial year and next to ease cost of living pressures, with help targeted at working families, low-income households and the most vulnerable.</p><p> </p><p>The Government is making sure we continue to deliver the financial support that people need. Our spending on disability support is the second highest in the G7 – with a record £59 billion forecast to be spent this year (2021/2022), or 2.5% of GDP. This will increase by £3.5 billion to over £62 billion in 2022/23.</p><p> </p><p>This year, the total amount that the Government spends on Employment and Support Allowance will increase by 3.1% from April 2022, in line with the Consumer Prices Index. This approach is fair to both benefit recipients and taxpayers.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants receiving legacy benefits who believe they may be better off on Universal Credit should first refer to the independent benefits calculators on GOV.UK. They can also get help through the government funded Help to Claim scheme as well as Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, Personal Independence Payment is available to help with the extra costs faced by people with a long-term health condition or disability.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 14/03/2022 16:15:55 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4667 label Biography information for Mike Amesbury

1435523

	registered interest
	date	25/02/2022
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total value was of contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance payments made to people resident in (a) Scotland and (b) the rest of the UK in each year since 2000.
	tabling member constituency	Kilmarnock and Loudoun
	tabling member printed	Alan Brown
	uin	129836
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 07/03/2022 answer text <p>The available information is partially detailed in the table below.</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>£millions</p></td><td><p> </p></td><td><p>2008/09</p></td><td><p>2009/10</p></td><td><p>2010/11</p></td><td><p>2011/12</p></td><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>2013/14</p></td><td><p>2014/15</p></td><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>2016/17</p></td><td><p>2017/18</p></td><td><p>2018/19</p></td><td><p>2019/20</p></td><td><p>2020/21</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>ESA (contributory &amp; IB)</p></td><td><p>GB</p></td><td><p>127</p></td><td><p>1,267</p></td><td><p>2,232</p></td><td><p>3,554</p></td><td><p>6,780</p></td><td><p>10,437</p></td><td><p>12,827</p></td><td><p>14,272</p></td><td><p>14,830</p></td><td><p>15,353</p></td><td><p>15,098</p></td><td><p>13,851</p></td><td><p>13,382</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>ESA (contributory &amp; IB)</p></td><td><p>Sco</p></td><td><p>14</p></td><td><p>130</p></td><td><p>224</p></td><td><p>381</p></td><td><p>753</p></td><td><p>1,210</p></td><td><p>1,433</p></td><td><p>1,583</p></td><td><p>1,664</p></td><td><p>1,732</p></td><td><p>1,726</p></td><td><p>1,603</p></td><td><p>1,556</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>ESA (contributory)</p></td><td><p>GB</p></td><td><p>64</p></td><td><p>581</p></td><td><p>955</p></td><td><p>1,399</p></td><td><p>2,305</p></td><td><p>3,539</p></td><td><p>4,101</p></td><td><p>4,457</p></td><td><p>4,687</p></td><td><p>4,711</p></td><td><p>4,563</p></td><td><p>4,512</p></td><td><p>4,567</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p> </p><p>The table above includes total Contributory and Income Based ESA for GB and Scotland. A breakdown of the value of Contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance payments made to people resident in Scotland is not currently available.</p><p> </p><p>ESA started as a benefit in 2008/09.</p><p> </p><p>This information has been published and can be found via links below:</p><p> </p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/benefit-expenditure-and-caseload-tables-2021" target="_blank">Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)</a></p><p> </p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 07/03/2022 17:32:43 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4470 label Biography information for Alan Brown

1417707

	registered interest
	date	28/01/2022
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people that claimed employment and support allowance in (a) 2018, (b) 2019, (c) 2020 and (d) 2021.
	tabling member constituency	Feltham and Heston
	tabling member printed	Seema Malhotra
	uin	113741
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 03/02/2022 answer text <p>Quarterly statistics on the number of people receiving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and monthly statistics on the number of people receiving ESA Work Capability Assessments can be found on Stat-Xplore at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for users is available at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p> </p><p>The annual caseload figures for ESA are shown in Table 1c of the latest Benefit expenditure and caseload tables published here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/benefit-expenditure-tables" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/benefit-expenditure-tables</a></p><p /> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 03/02/2022 14:46:45 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4253 label Biography information for Seema Malhotra

1403340

	registered interest
	date	17/01/2022
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have been affected by the underpayment of benefits after transitioning from incapacity benefit to employment support allowance, by parliamentary constituency.
	tabling member constituency	Wirral South
	tabling member printed	Alison McGovern
	uin	105501
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 21/01/2022 answer text <p>I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 19<sup>th</sup> January to question number <a href="https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2022-01-14/104377" target="_blank">104377</a>.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith grouped question UIN 105342 105343 105344 105372 105502 105520 105555 105556 105557 105573 105577 105601 105681 105691 105708 105715 105723 105725 105747 105748 105749 105750 105755 105759 105770 105783 question first answered 21/01/2022 12:22:54 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4083 label Biography information for Alison McGovern

1366397

	registered interest
	date	05/11/2021
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer on 25 October 2021 to Question 57146 on Employment Support Allowance (ESA), what steps her Department is taking to ensure (a) ESA decision makers apply hardship payments where appropriate for individuals whose ESA has been temporarily suspended while investigations into capital allowance are ongoing and (b) training of ESA decision makers on the role of hardship payments.
	tabling member constituency	Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
	tabling member printed	Drew Hendry
	uin	70285
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 16/11/2021 answer text <p>Decisions about whether suspending payment would cause hardship are made on a case by case basis by considering the circumstances of the claimant at the point that suspension becomes an option. This would only arise after a claimant has been given the opportunity to resolve the doubt that has arisen in relation to their entitlement or award and not done that.</p><p> </p><p>Decision makers are trained to be fully conversant with all legislation and guidance in relation to all aspects of Decision Making, including hardship. There are quality assurance frameworks to ensure that there are consistent national standards in the decision-making process.</p><p> </p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 16/11/2021 13:56:08 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith previous answer version 32253 answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4467 label Biography information for Drew Hendry

1363497

	registered interest
	date	26/10/2021
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of claimants who have reached the end of their 12 month entitlement to contributions-based employment and support allowance before the Centre for Health and Disability Assessments has completed its work capability assessment to determine whether their entitlement remains after the initial 12 month period.
	tabling member constituency	Glenrothes
	tabling member printed	Peter Grant
	uin	63761
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 04/11/2021 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 04/11/2021 15:54:50 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith previous answer version 28981 answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4466 label Biography information for Peter Grant

1361305

	registered interest
	date	19/10/2021
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support is available for employment and support allowance claimants who have had to leave the country for more than 28 days.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	58876
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2021 answer text <p>Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) can continue to be paid when a claimant is temporarily absent from Great Britain for more than 28 days where an absence is in connection with treatment in relation to their limited capability for work, or the health of a dependent child, provided they continue to meet the other conditions of entitlement. In these cases, ESA can continue to be awarded for the first 26 weeks in a 52-week period.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, where ESA claimants travel abroad for NHS treatment, or move to live with a partner or close family member who is a serving member of the armed forces there are no time limits.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 25/10/2021 17:04:17 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith previous answer version 26406 answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1359817

	registered interest
	date	15/10/2021
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of extending the eligibility criteria for people on Income Related Employment and Support Allowance to apply for a hardship payment to include any cause of temporary payment suspension.
	tabling member constituency	Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey
	tabling member printed	Drew Hendry
	uin	57146
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/10/2021 answer text <p>Whether the claimant is facing a sanction related to work-related matters or a suspension because there is a doubt about their entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance, claimants can already apply for hardship with their Jobcentre adviser, work coach or via the helpline, at any time during the period when payment is reduced or stopped.</p> answering member constituency Norwich North answering member printed Chloe Smith question first answered 25/10/2021 17:19:26 answering member 1609 label Biography information for Chloe Smith
	tabling member	4467 label Biography information for Drew Hendry

1338612

	registered interest
	date	21/06/2021
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of employment support available to people who (a) claim Employment and Support Allowance and (b) want to move into employment.
	tabling member constituency	North East Fife
	tabling member printed	Wendy Chamberlain
	uin	19699
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/06/2021 answer text <p>No recent assessment has been made. We have recently restarted our employment support for people claiming ESA following a pause due to Covid-19. We adopt a personalised approach for every claimant, supporting them to undertake tailored activities designed to move them towards and into employment, if and when they are able.</p> answering member constituency Mid Sussex answering member printed Mims Davies question first answered 24/06/2021 15:03:38 answering member 4513 label Biography information for Mims Davies
	tabling member	4765 label Biography information for Wendy Chamberlain

1316313

	registered interest
	date	19/05/2021
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans her Department has to amend the employment and support allowance eligibility to include claimants who have been unable to pay National Insurance contributions as a result of shielding.
	tabling member constituency	Barnsley Central
	tabling member printed	Dan Jarvis
	uin	3874
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 24/05/2021 answer text <p>We have no plans to amend the National Insurance (NI) contributions conditions for contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).</p><p>Clinically extremely vulnerable individuals advised to ‘shield’ in line with public health guidance were eligible for ESA and would have received NI credits as part of their award. Where an individual required further financial assistance they may have been eligible for Universal Credit.</p><p>In addition, employers could and still can furlough clinically extremely vulnerable employees, who remain eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) even whilst shielding guidance is not in place. Individuals continue to pay NI contributions as normal as part of CJRS.</p><p /><p /> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 24/05/2021 13:53:56 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4243 label Biography information for Dan Jarvis

1310113

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2021
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of (a) new style and (b) contribution-based employment and support allowance were in the assessment phase when their payments were stopped as a result of reaching the end of the 365 day time-limit since March 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow East
	tabling member printed	David Linden
	uin	183256
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2021 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The available statistics for ESA WCA by month of claim start (to June 2020) for initial assessment outcomes, including those still in progress, and assessment outcome by month of decision to September 2020, are published here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2021</a></p><p> </p><p>We recognise that Work Capability Assessments (WCAs) have unfortunately not been completed for some contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimants as quickly as we would have liked due to the pressures presented by the pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>The Honourable gentleman might be aware that face-to-face assessments for WCAs will resume from May across England and Scotland, and will do so in Wales from the point on their roadmap when socialising indoors is allowed. This will initially be for those who we have been unable to fully assess by other channels.</p><p> </p><p>Throughout the pandemic we have continued to assess people on paper evidence as usual, using this route whenever possible. We also introduced telephone assessments in June 2020 in a phased approach, with limited outcomes in the first instance, that allowed us to build capability and improve processes. Since the beginning of February all outcomes have been available in telephone assessments, and we are now in the process of completing second telephone assessments for people who previously had a telephone assessment but no outcome. The combination of these assessment channels will enable us to ensure that claimants receive their correct benefit entitlement as quickly as possible.</p><p> </p><p>If, following their assessment and the subsequent decision, an ESA claimant is entitled to a higher rate of benefit, payments are backdated where appropriate so that they do not lose out. Where an individual’s contributory ESA ends, if they require 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 grouped question UIN 183257 question first answered 22/04/2021 14:22:07 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4640 label Biography information for David Linden

1310114

	registered interest
	date	19/04/2021
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of (a) new style and (b) contribution-based employment and support allowance are in the assessment phase as at 19 April 2021; and how and many what proportion of those claimants are awaiting a face-to-face assessment.
	tabling member constituency	Glasgow East
	tabling member printed	David Linden
	uin	183257
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 22/04/2021 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The available statistics for ESA WCA by month of claim start (to June 2020) for initial assessment outcomes, including those still in progress, and assessment outcome by month of decision to September 2020, are published here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2021</a></p><p> </p><p>We recognise that Work Capability Assessments (WCAs) have unfortunately not been completed for some contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimants as quickly as we would have liked due to the pressures presented by the pandemic.</p><p> </p><p>The Honourable gentleman might be aware that face-to-face assessments for WCAs will resume from May across England and Scotland, and will do so in Wales from the point on their roadmap when socialising indoors is allowed. This will initially be for those who we have been unable to fully assess by other channels.</p><p> </p><p>Throughout the pandemic we have continued to assess people on paper evidence as usual, using this route whenever possible. We also introduced telephone assessments in June 2020 in a phased approach, with limited outcomes in the first instance, that allowed us to build capability and improve processes. Since the beginning of February all outcomes have been available in telephone assessments, and we are now in the process of completing second telephone assessments for people who previously had a telephone assessment but no outcome. The combination of these assessment channels will enable us to ensure that claimants receive their correct benefit entitlement as quickly as possible.</p><p> </p><p>If, following their assessment and the subsequent decision, an ESA claimant is entitled to a higher rate of benefit, payments are backdated where appropriate so that they do not lose out. Where an individual’s contributory ESA ends, if they require 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 grouped question UIN 183256 question first answered 22/04/2021 14:22:07 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4640 label Biography information for David Linden

1308128

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2021
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of (a) New Style and (b) contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance are in the assessment phase; and of those claimants how many are awaiting a face-to-face assessment.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	179282
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2021 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The available statistics for ESA WCA by month of claim start (to June 2020) for initial assessment outcomes, including those still in progress, and assessment outcome by month of decision to September 2020, are published here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2021</a></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 179283 question first answered 15/04/2021 13:24:31 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1308129

	registered interest
	date	12/04/2021
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many claimants of (a) New Style and (b) contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance have been in the assessment phase when their payments stopped at the end of 365 days since March 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Lewisham, Deptford
	tabling member printed	Vicky Foxcroft
	uin	179283
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 15/04/2021 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>The available statistics for ESA WCA by month of claim start (to June 2020) for initial assessment outcomes, including those still in progress, and assessment outcome by month of decision to September 2020, are published here:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2021" target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/esa-outcomes-of-work-capability-assessments-including-mandatory-reconsiderations-and-appeals-march-2021</a></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 179282 question first answered 15/04/2021 13:24:31 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4491 label Biography information for Vicky Foxcroft

1289511

	registered interest
	date	24/02/2021
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support she is putting in place for people (a) awaiting a face-to-face assessment for employment and support allowance, (b) whose contributory employment and support allowance is due to expire and (c) who earn above the threshold eligible for universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	158025
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 01/03/2021 answer text <p>The health and safety of our claimants and staff is our key priority. We suspended all face-to-face assessments for sickness and disability benefits in March 2020. This temporary suspension, brought in to protect people from unnecessary risk of coronavirus at the outset of the pandemic, remains in place, and is being kept under review in line with the latest public health guidance. Any re-introduction of face-to-face assessments would involve stringent Covid-19 related safety measures, supported by guidance for claimants and assessment providers to ensure compliance with the relevant public health guidance.</p><p> </p><p>However, throughout the pandemic we have continued to assess people on paper evidence, using this route whenever possible. We also introduced telephone assessments, providing limited outcomes, in June 2020. We have continued building our capacity and capability since June enabling us to provide the full range of outcomes at volume from this February. This action will ensure that claimants receive their correct benefit entitlement as quickly as possible and reduce the time claimants who may be entitled to a higher award are waiting for their assessment.</p><p> </p><p>Where an individual’s contributory ESA ends if they require further financial support they may be eligible for Universal Credit, depending on their personal circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>For people who are ineligible for Universal Credit they may be eligible for other assistance such as Discretionary Housing Payments provided by their Local Authority, which helps the most vulnerable and supports renters with housing costs in the private and social rented sectors.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, the Government has introduced a raft of temporary measures to support those hardest hit:</p><ul><li>Extension of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to support individuals and businesses who are impacted by disruption caused by coronavirus (COVID-19) this winter. The CJRS (also known as the furlough scheme) will remain open until 31 March 2021</li><li>The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant extension provides critical support to the self-employed in the form of 2 further grants, each available for 3-month periods covering November 2020 to January 2021 and February 2021 to April 2021.</li><li>Affected self-employed claimants will also not have a Minimum Income Floor (an assumed level of income) applied for a period of time within UC.</li><li>Working people on low incomes who are required to remain at home by NHS Test and Trace to help stop the spread of the virus and cannot work from home can now receive £500 to financially support them while self-isolating.</li><li>Local housing allowance rates have been increased to cover the lowest 30th percent of local rents. This £1bn investment will benefit over 1 million households with an average increase of £600 this year, and help alleviate the pressure on Discretionary Housing Payments.</li><li>People in England can also apply to their Local Authority for support from the £170 million Covid Winter Grant Scheme that we have introduced to help with food and essential utility bills to the end of March. Devolved Administrations have received equivalent funding.</li></ul><p> </p><p>In addition, there is a Flexible Support Fund, which has been increased by £150 million, to support customers facing redundancy.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 01/03/2021 16:45:49 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1287922

	registered interest
	date	22/02/2021
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to provide increased support to employment and support allowance claimants awaiting face-to-face assessments for higher rate benefits.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	156357
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 25/02/2021 answer text <p>The health and safety of our claimants and staff is our key priority. We suspended all face-to-face assessments for sickness and disability benefits in March 2020. This temporary suspension, brought in to protect people from unnecessary risk of coronavirus at the outset of the pandemic, remains in place, and is being kept under review in line with the latest public health guidance. Any re-introduction of face-to-face assessments would involve stringent Covid-19 related safety measures, supported by guidance for claimants and assessment providers to ensure compliance with the relevant public health guidance.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p>Eligible Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimants will receive the Assessment Rate of benefit for the first 13 weeks (this rate will increase by 0.5% in April in line with the Consumer Price Index). At present, claimants may stay on this rate for longer than usual.</p><p> </p><p>However, throughout the pandemic we have continued to assess people on paper evidence, using this route whenever possible. We also introduced telephone assessments providing limited outcomes in June 2020, building capacity and capability since then which has enabled us to provide the full range of outcomes from the beginning of February. By doing this, we will ensure that claimants receive their correct benefit entitlement as quickly as possible and reduce the time claimants who may be entitled to a higher award having to wait for their assessment.</p><p> </p><p>Therefore, if a claimant qualifies for an additional amount following their Work Capability Assessment (WCA), it will be backdated to the 14<sup>th</sup> week to ensure no long-term loss.</p><p> </p><p>Where an individual’s contributory ESA ends, if they require 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 25/02/2021 15:21:29 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1287923

	registered interest
	date	22/02/2021
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what plans she has to implement alternative arrangements for face-to-face assessments for employment and support allowance.
	tabling member constituency	Sheffield Central
	tabling member printed	Paul Blomfield
	uin	156358
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 02/03/2021 answer text <p>We continue to complete paper based assessments where possible and are now carrying out telephone Work Capability Assessments from which all outcomes are available. We are also trialling video assessments. Once completed the trial will be evaluated and a decision made on the feasibility to roll-out wider.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 02/03/2021 14:42:01 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4058 label Biography information for Paul Blomfield

1277029

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2021
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to enable claimants who are almost at the 365 day limit for Employment and Support Allowance to continue to receive benefit.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
	tabling member printed	Ian Murray
	uin	138432
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2021 answer text <p>There are no plans to extend the time limit for people claiming contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) who reach their 365-day limit and have not had a Work Capability Assessment (WCA).</p><p> </p><p>Due to the Covid-19 pandemic face-to-face assessments for sickness and disability benefits remain suspended. We are continuing to assess as many people as we are able to on paper evidence or via telephone assessments. Claimants are encouraged to provide all the evidence they have that is relevant to their case at the outset of their claim, including evidence supplied by their GP or other professionals, such as support workers, carers and community mental health nurses. The healthcare professionals who carry out assessments are expected to seek further evidence where it would help them provide advice to a DWP decision maker on a person’s claim.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, we now have a ring-fenced operational team in place to identify contributory ESA claims that we can progress in the absence of face-to-face assessments – for instance, those where further evidence might exist on other DWP benefit systems. If claimants have further evidence they think might help progress their claim, they should contact the Department.</p><p> </p><p>Where an individual’s contributory ESA ends, their income is reduced because they cannot work due to disability or a health condition and they require further financial support, they may be able to claim Universal Credit, depending on their personal circumstances.</p><p> </p><p><br></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 138433 138435 question first answered 20/01/2021 13:10:39 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

1277031

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2021
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have (a) not been assessed for Employment and Support Allowance and are close to reaching the 365 day limit, (b) been placed in the Limited Capability for Work group at the end of 365 days and (c) been placed in the Support group in each of the last two years.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
	tabling member printed	Ian Murray
	uin	138434
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2021 answer text <p>The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.</p><p> </p><p>Quarterly Employment and Support Allowance caseload statistics to May 2020, by duration and phase of claim are published here:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/</a></p><p> </p><p>Guidance for users is available at:</p><p><a href="https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html" target="_blank">https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/Getting-Started.html</a></p><p> </p><p>Employment and Support Allowance Work Capability Assessments statistics by month of claim start (to March 2020) for initial assessment outcomes including those still in progress, and assessment outcome by month of decision to June 2020, are published here:</p><p><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> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 20/01/2021 13:13:40 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

1277032

	registered interest
	date	15/01/2021
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will extend the 365 day limit for those claiming Employment and Support Allowance who have not had a face-to-face assessment.
	tabling member constituency	Edinburgh South
	tabling member printed	Ian Murray
	uin	138435
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 20/01/2021 answer text <p>There are no plans to extend the time limit for people claiming contributory Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) who reach their 365-day limit and have not had a Work Capability Assessment (WCA).</p><p> </p><p>Due to the Covid-19 pandemic face-to-face assessments for sickness and disability benefits remain suspended. We are continuing to assess as many people as we are able to on paper evidence or via telephone assessments. Claimants are encouraged to provide all the evidence they have that is relevant to their case at the outset of their claim, including evidence supplied by their GP or other professionals, such as support workers, carers and community mental health nurses. The healthcare professionals who carry out assessments are expected to seek further evidence where it would help them provide advice to a DWP decision maker on a person’s claim.</p><p> </p><p>Furthermore, we now have a ring-fenced operational team in place to identify contributory ESA claims that we can progress in the absence of face-to-face assessments – for instance, those where further evidence might exist on other DWP benefit systems. If claimants have further evidence they think might help progress their claim, they should contact the Department.</p><p> </p><p>Where an individual’s contributory ESA ends, their income is reduced because they cannot work due to disability or a health condition and they require further financial support, they may be able to claim Universal Credit, depending on their personal circumstances.</p><p> </p><p><br></p><p><strong> </strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 138432 138433 question first answered 20/01/2021 13:10:39 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	3966 label Biography information for Ian Murray

1221892

	registered interest
	date	08/07/2020
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how long an employment and support allowance decision is valid for.
	tabling member constituency	Kingston and Surbiton
	tabling member printed	Sir Edward Davey
	uin	70956
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 13/07/2020 answer text <p>An award of income-related ESA will be an indefinite award but it’s continued receipt is subject to the claimant meeting all the conditions of entitlement, and in particular that they continue to have, or be treated as having, Limited Capability for Work (LCW) or Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity (LCWRA).</p><p> </p><p>An award of contributory ESA is for a period of 12 months except where the claimant has LCWRA. Where the claimant continues to have or is treated as having LCWRA the award will be indefinite subject to the claimant meeting all the conditions of entitlement.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 13/07/2020 16:03:36 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	188 label Biography information for Ed Davey

1216234

	registered interest
	date	22/06/2020
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason employment and support allowance was not increased in line with the uplift in universal credit in March 2020.
	tabling member constituency	Erith and Thamesmead
	tabling member printed	Abena Oppong-Asare
	uin	62688
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 30/06/2020 answer text <p>The Government has announced a suite of measures that can be quickly and effectively operationalised to benefit those facing the most financial disruption during the pandemic. The Department was experiencing significantly increased demand and had to prioritise the safety and stability of the benefits system overall. The IT system which supports Universal Credit has more capacity to make the necessary changes than the systems that support legacy benefits. It also uses different technology from other DWP systems and these older systems have complex interactions and interdependencies. We estimate that 2.5m households receiving Universal Credit will have benefited straight away from the increase in the standard allowances which was announced on 20 March, and which is additional to the planned annual uprating. New claimants who have either become unemployed, or whose earnings or work hours have decreased because of the outbreak, will benefit too; subject to their eligibility.</p><p><em> </em></p><p>We have also made a number of changes to legacy and other working age benefits in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, including increasing certain entitlements, such as Local Housing Allowance. Up-to-date information about the employment and benefits support available, including Employment and Support Allowance, can be found here: <a href="https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/employment-and-benefits-support/" target="_blank">https://www.understandinguniversalcredit.gov.uk/employment-and-benefits-support/</a></p><p> </p><p>Taken together, DWP’s pandemic measures represent an injection of over £6.5 billion into the welfare system and, along with the other job and business support programmes announced by the Chancellor, represent one of the most comprehensive packages of support introduced by an advanced economy in response to COVID19.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson question first answered 30/06/2020 15:29:13 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4820 label Biography information for Abena Oppong-Asare

1199746

	registered interest
	date	02/06/2020
	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
	house id	1
	legislature	25259 pref label House of Commons
	question text	To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the potential merits of increasing the rate of employment support allowance in line with universal credit.
	tabling member constituency	Motherwell and Wishaw
	tabling member printed	Marion Fellows
	uin	53477
	answer	answer is ministerial correction date of answer 08/06/2020 answer text <p>Employment and Support Allowance, Jobseeker’s Allowance or Income Support were increased by 1.7% in April 2020following the Government’s announcement to end the benefit freeze. .</p><p> </p><p>It has always been the case that claimants on legacy benefits can make a claim for UC if they believe that they will be better off. There are special arrangements for those in receipt of the Severe Disability Premium, who will be able to make a new claim to Universal Credit from January 2021.</p><p> </p><p>Claimants should check their eligibility before applying to Universal Credit as legacy benefits will end when they submit their claim and they will not be able to return to them in the future. For this reason, prospective claimants are signposted to independent benefits calculators on GOV.UK. Neither DWP nor HMRC can advise individual claimants whether they would be better off moving to UC or remaining on legacy benefits.</p><p> </p><p>From 22 July 2020, a two-week run on of Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance (IR) and Jobseeker’s Allowance (IB) will be available for all claimants whose claim to UC ends entitlement to these benefits to provide additional support for claimants moving to UC.</p> answering member constituency North Swindon answering member printed Justin Tomlinson grouped question UIN 54163 question first answered 08/06/2020 15:38:55 answering member 4105 label Biography information for Justin Tomlinson
	tabling member	4440 label Biography information for Marion Fellows