Covid-19 Support for People on Legacy Benefits
2021-05-17
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
During the pandemic, many individuals on low incomes and those receiving legacy benefits faced significant challenges. The Trussell Trust reported that 62% of working-age population referred to food banks were disabled.
What steps her Department is taking to support people on legacy benefits during the covid-19 outbreak? I am concerned about the decision to deny people on legacy benefits the same £20 uplift as those on universal credit, which will be challenged in the High Court. This continues to exclude 2 million disabled people despite extra costs faced due to the pandemic. Will the UK Government finally provide necessary support?
The Department has introduced a package of temporary welfare measures, paying out over £100 billion in welfare support this year and increasing local housing allowance rates by nearly £1 billion. Benefits have been raised by £100 million from April 2021 to retain value against prices. We spend more than £57 billion annually on benefits for disabled people, an extra £4 billion in real terms.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment to provide support for disabled people excluded from the £20 uplift
It Is The Policy Of The Department Not To Comment On Live Litigation.
Response accuracy
Q2
Partial Answer
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Context
The Trussell Trust reported that 62% of working-age population referred to food banks were disabled. The Tories' decision to deny these individuals the same £20 uplift as those on universal credit will be challenged in the High Court.
Will the UK Government provide necessary support for disabled people who are excluded from the £20 uplift? This is an injustice and needs to be addressed without waiting for judicial review.
The Government have focused support on UC and working tax credit claimants due to their higher risk of being affected by the economic shock of covid-19. I will not comment on live litigation, but legacy benefit recipients can make a new universal credit claim to benefit from the £20 increase.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific agreement that judicial review should be necessary for addressing the injustice
It Is The Policy Of The Department Not To Comment On Live Litigation.
Response accuracy
Q3
Partial Answer
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Context
Ministers have been repeatedly asked about the lack of uplift to legacy benefits, which now faces judicial review. The government's decision is seen as discriminatory against disabled people.
Do Ministers see that they are discriminating against millions of disabled people on these benefits? This needs to be sorted. Does the Minister agree that it should not take a judicial review to tackle this injustice?
I am not going to comment on live litigation, but I would say that legacy claimants can make a new UC claim and benefit from the £20 a week increase. The Government encourage anybody to go on gov.uk and use one of the independent benefit calculators to check carefully their eligibility before they apply.
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Assessment & feedback
Specific agreement that judicial review should be necessary for addressing the injustice
It Is The Policy Of The Department Not To Comment On Live Litigation.
Response accuracy