Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Disabled Jobseekers: Support at Jobcentres

Monday 24 April 2023 · 4 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

  • Ministerial responses highlighted expertise of disability employment advisers and broader support initiatives for disabled jobseekers.
  • Government commitment to getting 1 million more disabled people into work was met five years early according to the minister.
  • Quality assurance processes monitor and review the decisions made by assessment providers working with the Department.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Nigel Mills Con
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

The issue of disabled jobseekers not having sufficient access to the necessary support and equipment at jobcentres is being raised.

Question

What steps he is taking to help ensure disabled jobseekers can access specialist support at jobcentres?

Answer from Tom Pursglove

Disability employment advisers have expertise on how to help disabled jobseekers into work and build work coach skills to help these claimants. That is in addition to broader support, including our increased work coach support, the Work and Health programme and intensive, personalised employment support.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not specify any new or additional steps beyond existing programmes.

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Q2 Marsha de Cordova Lab Battersea
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

Research by Sense indicates that disabled jobseekers lack the necessary support and equipment at jobcentres, leading to difficulties in finding and applying for work.

Question

Will they commit today to a jobcentre assistive technology fund to support disabled people to look for work?

Answer from Tom Pursglove

I categorically reject the initial point made in the hon. Lady's question. The fact is that this Government set a target of getting 1 million more disabled people into work and we met it five years early, but now we must go further. That is precisely why we have brought forward the reforms in the White Paper, which we genuinely believe will remove that structural barrier to work.

Not addressed: Did not commit to establishing a jobcentre assistive technology fund as requested.

How: Categorically Reject

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Q3 Nigel Mills Con
Employment Benefits & Welfare
Context

Disabled individuals face issues where assessments identify necessary support or adaptations, but such resources are not available when needed.

Question

Is there some source of optimism to be found in the funds and the changes announced in the spring Budget that support will be lined up in advance?

Answer from Tom Pursglove

It is really welcome that the whole of Government are focused on what more we can do to support disabled people and people with health conditions into work, if that is appropriate for them. That was reflected in the commitments that the Chancellor made on the Work Well programme and on universal support.

Not addressed: Did not provide specific optimism regarding the availability of support or address recent budget changes.

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Q4 Stephanie Peacock Lab Barnsley South
Benefits & Welfare Standards & Ethics
Context

Maximus, a private company used by the DWP to assess benefit eligibility, makes potentially life-changing decisions affecting many constituents.

Question

What training and qualification requirements are there for Maximus assessors making these potentially life-changing decisions?

Answer from Tom Pursglove

Continual quality assurance processes are in place that monitor and keep tabs on the quality of the decisions made by any of the assessment providers that work with the Department. Of course, we always keep that under constant review.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific training or qualification details for Maximus assessors.

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