Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Legacy Benefits: People with Severe Disabilities

Monday 13 December 2021 · 3 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Judith Cummins questioned the adequacy of legacy benefits for people with severe disabilities.
  • Judith Cummins raised concerns about a constituent losing the severe disability premium upon moving to universal credit.
  • Vicky Foxcroft inquired about the DWP's commissioned research on health and disability benefits, highlighting its importance.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Judith Cummins Lab Bradford South
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP raises concerns about legacy benefits adequacy for individuals with severe disabilities.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the adequacy of legacy benefits for people with severe disabilities?

Answer from Chloe Smith

People on legacy benefits with severe disabilities are most likely to get employment and support allowance. Income-related ESA claimants may be entitled to the enhanced disability premium or the severe disability premium. Claimants may also be eligible for personal independence payments to help with the extra costs of living faced by disabled people.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The adequacy assessment requested was not addressed directly.

How: Describing Alternative Benefits Without Addressing Adequacy

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Q2 Judith Cummins Lab Bradford South
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP highlights a constituent's situation where moving from income support to universal credit results in the loss of severe disability payment, raising concerns about worsening conditions.

Question

I am sure the whole House agrees that a good society is one that helps those in great need. I have a constituent in great need. She was in receipt of income support and the severe disability premium, but her child is now aged five so she has been told to claim universal credit, which will cause her severe disability payment to end. What assurances can the Minister give my constituent that we are still in a good society and that, by being forced into this change in her benefits, she will be no worse off?

Answer from Chloe Smith

It would be difficult for me to comment on the hon. Member's constituent's precise circumstances, although I am happy to look at the case if she wants to write to me with details. As a general point, to support claimants previously entitled to the severe disability premium who moved to universal credit after a change of circumstances, there are transitional payments protections in place.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific assurances requested for the constituent were not given directly.

How: Offered General Information Instead

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Q3 Vicky Foxcroft Lab Lewisham North
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The MP inquires about the release of a DWP-commissioned NatCen report assessing the adequacy of health and disability benefits, citing previous requests from the Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee.

Question

The DWP commissioned NatCen to undertake research on the uses of health and disability benefits. As my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford South (Judith Cummins) eloquently outlined, that research, which assesses the adequacy of benefits for disabled people, is vital. Several requests have been made for the report to be made public, including by the Chair of the Work and Pensions Committee, but they have all been refused. Will the Minister release the report? If not, can she explain what the Government are hiding?

Answer from Chloe Smith

The short answer is no. The longer answer was given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the Work and Pensions Committee only last week.

Not addressed: Direct release request not answered, referenced previous committee discussion instead.

How: Referenced Past Responses

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