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Written question asked by Neil Duncan-Jordan (Labour) on Thursday, 27 March 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 31 March 2025. It was answered by Stephen Timms (Labour) on Monday, 7 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, with reference to paragraphs 2.33 to 2.35 of HM Treasury's document entitled Spring Statement 2025, published on 26 March 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the changes in health and disability benefits on (a) the health of those people receiving such benefits and (b) societal health inequalities.

Answer

No such assessment has been made.

However, we have evidence that delivering better and more tailored employment support can get more people off welfare, and into work - alongside a higher expectation to engage with that support.

We are investing £1 billion a year by the end of the decade in new employment, health and skills support – one of the biggest packages of new employment support for sick and disabled people ever.

In addition, corrective action is needed after the value of the basic unemployment benefit was run down to a 40-year low, while incapacity benefits continued to rise. Meaning the rate of Universal Credit for those on the health element is now double that for those on the standard allowance. As a result, all the incentives are to claim incapacity benefits and define yourself as incapable of work, with both the OBR and IFS suggesting this has been a factor in driving higher incapacity benefit claims.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
42059
Session
2024-26
Related items
Spring Statement 2025
Wednesday, 26 March 2025
Command papers
House of Commons
House of Lords
Social Security Benefits: Health
Wednesday, 23 April 2025
Written questions
House of Commons
Subjects
Reform Social security benefits
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk