I refer the Honourable Member to the response given on 6 June 2018 to Parliamentary Question 146986.<\/p>
<\/p>
The original internal recommendation to change the ESA65B letter was in summer 2016.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-22T14:15:49.063Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment and Support Allowance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when Ministers authorised a change to the ESA65B letter to GPs telling them there is no longer a need for them to supply fit notes to their patients who had been found fit for work through a Work Capability Assessment.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4212", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Debbie Abrahams"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Oldham East and Saddleworth"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Debbie Abrahams"} ], "uin" : "234145"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1091227", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1091227/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
Claimants should not experience a loss of benefit in this situation.<\/p>
<\/p>
Claimants can be paid Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) whilst appealing a decision, the rate of which is equivalent to that of Jobseeker\u2019s Allowance (JSA). In order for someone to be paid ESA pending an appeal they need to provide the Department with fit notes in order to be treated as having Limited Capability for Work until the appeal is determined. However, this doesn\u2019t apply where the claimant fails a second Work Capability Assessment. Where this is the case then ESA will not be paid pending the appeal and the claimant would need to claim new style Jobseeker\u2019s Allowance (NSJSA) or Universal Credit (UC).<\/p>
<\/p>
If a claimant\u2019s GP does not provide them with a fit note during the appeal period they cannot be paid ESA but are able to claim UC or NSJSA where eligible.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-22T13:09:22.153Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment and Support Allowance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many sick and disabled people have lost social security support payments whilst they appealed their work capability assessment as a result of GPs receiving the amended ESA65B letter; and what savings to the public purse have accrued as a result of stopped social security support arising from that change.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4212", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Debbie Abrahams"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Oldham East and Saddleworth"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Debbie Abrahams"} ], "uin" : "234146"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1091228", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1091228/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department is committed to ensuring all of its communications are clear, accurate and understandable and we continuously improve our letters. We do not routinely evaluate changes to external communications, however we do engage regularly with the welfare benefits advice sector and disability charities and take into account all of the feedback we receive.<\/p>
<\/p>
We have received comments from a number of sources including MPs, stakeholder organisations and GPs on the current version of the ESA65B letter and will take all of their feedback into account when revising it.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-22", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-22T13:17:06.143Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Employment and Support Allowance"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect of the changes to her Department's ESA65B letter to GPs on employment and support allowance claimants.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4212", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Debbie Abrahams"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Oldham East and Saddleworth"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Debbie Abrahams"} ], "uin" : "234147"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1088707", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1088707/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "
The Department has listened to the concerns and views of a wide range of organisations and individuals and we have been working to deliver real improvements, and we will continue to do so. The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions announced on 5th<\/sup> March that the Department would be commissioning a new piece of research to better understand disabled claimants\u2019 experiences of the benefit system, and how to meet their needs.<\/p> This research will be delivered by external research contractors who have expertise in this area and involve in-depth interviews with claimants. We will look to commission this work later this year, with a view to publishing next year. As with all externally commissioned DWP social research, the findings will be published and available on the gov.uk website.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-19T10:10:06.76Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Security Benefits: Disability"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the oral contribution of the hon. Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth, of 6 March 2019, Official Report, column 969, what the terms of reference will be for the review into the adequacy of social security support for disabled people; and who will be involved in that review.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4212", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Debbie Abrahams"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Oldham East and Saddleworth"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Debbie Abrahams"}
], "uin" : "232571"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1088708", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1088708/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " As set out in the Secretary of State\u2019s speech, the Department is committed to continue helping disabled people to achieve their potential and lead positive flourishing lives<\/p> <\/p> We have listened to, and acted on a number of concerns raised by our customers and stakeholders, which includes stopping those who have been awarded the highest level of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), whose needs are unlikely to decrease, now receive an ongoing award \u2013 with only a light touch review a decade later and SPA announcement. We have also listened to the feedback from claimants about their experience of assessments which is why we are now trialling the video recording of PIP assessments.<\/p> <\/p> However, there is more that we need to do, which is why we have announced it is our ambition to go further, to listen and reform effectively to deliver policies, strategies and structures that are co-produced with disabled people.<\/p>"}
, "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4105", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Justin Tomlinson"}
}
, "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "North Swindon"}
, "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Justin Tomlinson"}
, "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2019-03-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2019-03-19T14:47:32.74Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
]}
, "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"}
, "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"}
, "date" : {"_value" : "2019-03-14", "_datatype" : "dateTime"}
, "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "Social Security Benefits: Disability"}
, "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"}
, "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"}
}
], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the oral contribution of the hon. Member for Oldham East and Saddleworth, of 6 March 2019, Official Report, column 969, what plans she has to change the culture of her Department.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"}
, "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4212", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Debbie Abrahams"}
}
, "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Oldham East and Saddleworth"}
, "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Debbie Abrahams"}
], "uin" : "232572"}
, {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1087208", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"}
], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1087208/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : " The Christmas Bonus is a one-off tax-free £10 payment paid to claimants who receive certain qualifying benefits including Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA). To qualify, the claimant must be in receipt of the qualifying benefit in the qualifying week which is normally the first full week of December. If a DLA or PIP claimant receives another qualifying benefit their bonus may be attached to that benefit rather than to their PIP or DLA award.<\/p> <\/p> The Department publishes a range of detailed statistics for PIP and DLA on Stat-Xplore: https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/<\/a>. These statistics include monthly caseloads (claims in payment) to August 2018 for DLA and to October 2018 for PIP. Caseloads for December 2018 have not yet been published.<\/p> <\/p> <\/p> Guidance on how to use Stat-Xplore can be found here: https://sw.stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/webapi/online-help/index.html<\/a>.<\/p> <\/p>