Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Social Security Benefits: Vulnerable People

Monday 18 March 2024 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Department assesses support for vulnerable people claiming social security benefits through training on mental health and a six-point plan for suicide or self-harm risk.
  • The Department plans to engage with and support customers slowly during the transition to Universal Credit to address concerns about the high percentage of households failing to move to Universal Credit.
  • The Department is progressing with referring Personal Independence Payment claimants to community support services, including the household support fund and opportunities to access local libraries for additional support.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Margaret Greenwood Lab
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Assessment requested on the effectiveness of Department for Work and Pensions' support for individuals claiming social security benefits.

Question

What assessment has been made of the effectiveness of his Department's support for vulnerable people who claim social security benefits?

Answer from Mims Davies

It is a key priority for the Department to provide effective support. Training on mental health and a six-point plan for suicide or self-harm risk are provided. The DWP reviews processes regularly based on feedback from colleagues and customers, and through serious case panel work.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address effectiveness specifically with data or concrete evidence.

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Q2 Margaret Greenwood Lab
Benefits & Welfare
Context

3% of households on legacy benefits failed to transition to Universal Credit, rising to 21%. Concern over the impact on vulnerable individuals.

Question

The Government estimated that 3% of households on legacy benefits would fail to move to Universal Credit under managed migration. However, by last December, 21% had not managed to do so and, as a result, had their benefits stopped. This is a matter of real concern. The DWP will now ask more vulnerable people who are wholly reliant on benefits to transfer. What will the Government do to ensure that those vulnerable people do not fall out of the social security system?

Answer from Mims Davies

The Minister for Employment has reminded me that we will take this very slowly, and will engage with and support customers. Customers can speak to help to claim advisers at Citizens Advice, and we will ensure that we listen to them.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific measures or commitments to prevent vulnerable people from falling out of the social security system.

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Q3 Justin Tomlinson Con
Benefits & Welfare
Context

Concern over proactive referral of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants to wider community support.

Question

In addition to the financial support provided to PIP claimants, what progress is being made to refer claimants proactively to the widest support available in their community?

Answer from Mims Davies

There is the household support fund, help to claim, and opportunities to pop into the local library for additional support. An extra £500 million is available on top of the £1 billion through the end of this month. The benefits calculator is also out there, along with CAB and local council advice.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific updates or progress details regarding proactive referrals to community support services.

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Q4 Debbie Abrahams Lab Oldham East and Saddleworth
NHS Benefits & Welfare Mental Health
Context

Government policies under investigation for breaches of the UN convention on rights of persons with disabilities, including article 28. Previous austerity measures responsible for 148,000 avoidable deaths.

Question

Today the Government are in Geneva defending their policies to the UN committee that is investigating the UK for breaches of the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, including article 28 on the right of disabled people to social protection. Given that drastically cutting disabled people's social security support between 2012 and 2019 and austerity were found to be responsible for 148,000 avoidable deaths, how will the new wave of austerity announced in the Budget affect the health and wellbeing of disabled people?

Answer from Mims Davies

The Government are committed to the UN convention, delivering tangible progress through the national disability strategy and action plan. This includes ensuring that disabled customers can use services they are entitled to and better reflecting their needs in emergency planning.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address new austerity measures or their impact on disabled people's health and well-being specifically.

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Q5 Dean Russell
Benefits & Welfare Mental Health
Context

Campaigning for parity between mental and physical health in the workplace. Acknowledgment of Health and Safety Executive's work on updating first aid guidance.

Question

I truly welcome and am personally grateful for my hon. Friend's support for my campaign for parity between mental and physical health in the workplace, and for the recent publication of the national suicide prevention strategy, which referenced two of the points I have been campaigning on. I understand acutely that the Health and Safety Executive has worked hard on updating first aid guidance, and I would be grateful if the Minister could please update the House on this.

Answer from Mims Davies

The DWP is committed to becoming a trauma-informed organisation, and we are working with the Health and Safety Executive and the Department of Health and Social Care on supporting the suicide prevention strategy for England. The first phase of mental health guidance has been revised to include text emphasising parity of risks.

Answered
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