Asked by: Baroness Sherlock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of individuals who were identified as entitled to income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) but who were moved to contributory-based ESA from Incapacity Benefit who were eligible for free wigs and fabric supports that they were then unable to claim as a result of that move; and what plans they have to compensate those individuals for any charges paid for such wigs and fabric supports.
Answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford
The Department of Health and Social Care is currently liaising closely with the Department for Work and Pensions, NHS England and the NHS Business Service Authority on this important issue, and reviewing all available evidence.
As part of this work, the Government is carefully considering how to proceed with regard to individuals who were placed on contributory, rather than income-related, Employment and Support Allowance.