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Written question asked by Andy Slaughter (Labour) on Wednesday, 6 December 2023, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 12 December 2023 (named day). It was answered by Mike Freer (Conservative) on Tuesday, 12 December 2023 on behalf of the Ministry of Justice.

Legal Aid Scheme: Universal Credit

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to the Autumn Statement 2023, published on 22 November 2023, whether the proposal to end access to legal aid for sanctioned Universal Credit claimants (a) relates to (i) criminal and (ii) civil legal aid and (b) would prevent those people from (A) passporting and (B) accessing all legal aid.

Answer

The DWP proposals on the Back to Work Plan will not remove access to legal aid for those Universal Credit (UC) claimants who may be sanctioned. Whilst anyone whose UC claim is closed would no longer be passported through the legal aid means test income assessment, the individual would remain eligible for civil or criminal legal aid, subject to the application of the full means assessment in the usual way. The additional provisions being built into DWP’s policy proposals will also mean that no vulnerable individual would face having their claim closed, thereby providing a further tier of protection for many legal aid user groups, such as the disabled and the homeless.

Over coming months, MoJ officials will be working closely with DWP officials as the policy develops.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
5539
Session
2023-24
Related items
Autumn Statement 2023
Wednesday, 22 November 2023
Command papers
House of Lords
House of Commons
Legal Aid Scheme: Universal Credit
Tuesday, 16 January 2024
Written questions
House of Commons
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Legal aid scheme Disqualification Universal credit
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk