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Written question asked by Fabian Hamilton (Labour) on Wednesday, 26 March 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 28 March 2025. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Thursday, 3 April 2025 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Social Security Benefits: Reform

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that people that are unable to work due to (a) long-term illness, (b) disability and (c) other circumstances are adequately supported following her planned reforms to the welfare system.

Answer

The social security system will always be there for those who can’t work. As part of making changes to the payment rates in Universal Credit, we will ensure that those with the most severe, lifelong conditions who will never be able to work have their incomes protected.

Twinned with this, as we set out in the Pathways to Work, our ambition is to guarantee personalised employment support to anyone claiming out of work benefits (UC and contributory) with a health condition or disability who wants to work but is currently outside the labour market. We propose that this guarantee will have a particular focus on early support, by offering everyone who claims out of work benefits and has a work-limiting health condition or disability, or who has recently been in receipt of PIP, with a support conversation. The support conversation will help identify the best next steps, including a range of personalised and more intensive support for anyone who wants it. We want our offer to be flexible, personalised and built on the evidence.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
41387
Session
2024-26
Subjects
Disability Reform Unemployment Social security benefits
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk