Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Benefit Sanctions

Monday 28 June 2021 · 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 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The government assesses claimants' needs on a business-as-usual basis, considering different vulnerabilities.
  • Jobcentres changed the decision-making process last year to ensure consistency in handling individual vulnerabilities.
  • Councils in Scotland have a duty towards former care leavers until age 25, and jobcentres are mindful of additional demands.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Marion Fellows SNP
Benefits & Welfare
Context

There is concern about the impact of reintroducing benefit sanctions, particularly on vulnerable individuals such as care leavers who are more likely to face sanctions.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the potential effect of reintroducing benefit sanctions on vulnerable claimants?

Answer from Therese Coffey

As we approach 19 July, we have to take a business-as-usual approach in how we respond to claimants' needs. The government considers different vulnerabilities and changed the decision-making process last year for consistency. Jobcentres account for individual vulnerabilities around the country.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The assessment of potential effects on vulnerable claimants was not provided, focusing instead on general approaches to handling claims.

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Q2 Marion Fellows SNP
Benefits & Welfare Children & Families
Context

With the resumption of face-to-face assessments by DWP, there is concern that more people will face sanctions, disproportionately affecting care leavers.

Question

Beyond scrapping sanctions altogether, will the DWP set up an internal marker and a single point of contact in each jobcentre to assist care-experienced claimants?

Answer from Therese Coffey

I am not aware of how the law applies in Scotland, but councils have a duty towards former care leavers until age 25. Jobcentres are mindful of additional demands and ensure individual vulnerabilities are considered.

Not addressed: The question about setting up internal markers and single points of contact was not directly answered; instead, the answer focused on duties towards care leavers in England and Wales.

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