Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Disabled People: Benefit System

Wednesday 17 June 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 0 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Debbie Abrahams asked Mims Davies about discussions on the benefit system for disabled people.
  • The response included measures like suspending face-to-face assessments and extending personal independence payment awards.
  • The Minister acknowledged the issue of health conditions making people more vulnerable to severe illness from COVID-19.

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Debbie Abrahams Lab Gorton
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Discussions on support measures for disabled individuals during the pandemic.

Question

What recent discussions has Mims Davies had with the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the effectiveness of the benefit system for supporting disabled people?

Answer from Mims Davies (Minister for Disabled People, Work and Pensions)

We remain committed to ensuring that the benefit system is effective and positive in supporting disabled people. That includes several measures, such as suspending face-to-face assessments, extending personal independence payment awards where necessary, and increasing the universal credit standard allowance and local housing allowance rates.

Answered
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Q2 Debbie Abrahams Lab Gorton
NHS Benefits & Welfare
Context

Concerns about the disproportionate impact of health conditions and social security support during the pandemic.

Question

We know that people with existing health conditions are more likely to become seriously ill with or succumb to covid-19 than the population as a whole. For example, more than one in four of all people who have died of covid in hospital in England also had diabetes. What assessment have the Government undertaken of the proportion of people with health conditions in receipt of social security support who have also died of covid?

Answer from Mims Davies (Minister for Disabled People, Work and Pensions)

I thank the hon. Lady for raising an important issue. The Department for Work and Pensions looks to identify and learn lessons swiftly. The Minister for Disabled People, Health and Work, my hon. Friend the Member for North Swindon is engaging extensively and holding conversations with charities and stakeholders on exactly these kinds of issues so that we can understand the impact on the most vulnerable.

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