Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Universal Credit Migration: Disabled People

Monday 11 July 2022 · 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 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Ministerial Department estimates that 600,000 people on employment and support allowance will be better off on Universal Credit.
  • The Department holds regular engagement sessions with external stakeholders, including disabled people and organisations in the health and disability sector.
  • Parliament voted in 2012 to end legacy benefits and replace them with a single, modern benefit system, with a commitment to provide transitional financial protection.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Nia Griffith Lab Llanelli
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question addresses the government's move from legacy benefits to Universal Credit for those on Employment and Support Allowance, focusing on the financial impact on disabled individuals.

Question

What assessment her Department has made of the impact on disabled people of the move from legacy benefits to universal credit as part of the managed migration process. In 2019 the then Secretary of State promised that the Department would pause the migration to UC after a pilot of 10,000 cases, would report back and would provide parliamentary scrutiny of legislation for the wider roll-out. Instead of breaking this promise, does the Minister accept that migration to UC will make thousands of people worse off in real terms just when inflation is going through the roof, and will she now pause the process?

Answer from Chloe Smith

We estimate that 600,000 people on employment and support allowance will be better off on UC. The Department holds regular engagement sessions with external stakeholders, including disabled people and others in the health and disability sector, seeking their input into the process. Parliament voted in 2012 to end legacy benefits and replace them with a single, modern benefit system, and committed to providing transitional financial protection.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly address whether she would pause the migration process as requested.

How: Under Review, Committed To Supporting

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Q2 Nia Griffith Lab Llanelli
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

Concerns about the impact of migration from legacy benefits to Universal Credit during a period of high inflation.

Question

In 2019 the then Secretary of State promised that the Department would pause the migration to UC after a pilot of 10,000 cases, would report back and would provide parliamentary scrutiny of legislation for the wider roll-out. Instead of breaking this promise, does the Minister accept that migration to UC will make thousands of people worse off in real terms just when inflation is going through the roof, and will she now pause the process?

Answer from Chloe Smith

The answer is no. Parliament voted in 2012 to end legacy benefits and replace them with a single, modern benefit system, committed to providing transitional financial protection. The vast majority of claimants will either be better off or no worse off.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not directly address whether she would pause the migration process as requested.

How: No Commitment

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Q3 Karen Buck Lab
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Concerns about the testing and safety of the migration from legacy benefits to Universal Credit, especially for more vulnerable claimants.

Question

The truth is that many people migrating will be worse off because of the timing—in a period of high inflation. We know that the legacy benefit group to be transferred on to UC is on average much more vulnerable than those in the existing UC caseload; the great majority of legacy ESA clients are in the support group. Can the Minister tell us exactly how the migration process is going? Has it been tested at scale to ensure that it is safe for vulnerable clients?

Answer from Chloe Smith

The process being followed is one of initial discovery. After that, it will be possible to provide fuller answers about how the broader process will work. The vast majority of claimants will either be better off or no worse off. 55% of people will see an increase in their award, 10% will see no change, and 35% will be protected transitionally.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister did not provide specific details on whether the process has been tested at scale for vulnerable clients as requested.

How: Initial Discovery

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