Asked by: Alex Burghart (Conservative - Brentwood and Ongar)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made of the number of people claiming employment support allowance who are in work.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) provides support to those that face barriers to work. Under Permitted Work rules, anyone claiming ESA can work fewer than 16 hours per week and earn up to £125.50 per week, for an indefinite period, without it affecting their benefit entitlement.
The information requested on how many people claiming ESA who are in work is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.