Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the two child benefit limit on (a) the levels of child poverty since July 2024 and (b) the projected levels of child poverty in each year until 2029-30.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
No assessment has been made using current methodological practices on this basis.
However, the department has previously produced a poverty impact assessment using OBR Spring Statement 2025 Round 2 economic assumptions on an outdated version of the DWP Policy Simulation Model. Using this methodology, the department has estimated the poverty impact removing the two-child benefit limit. Removing the two-child benefit limit has been estimated to decrease the number of children in relative poverty after housing costs by 300,000 (2.2%) in 2025/26, 300,000 (2.3%) in 2026/27, 300,000 (2.3%) in 2027/28, 350,000 (2.6%) in 2028/29, and 350,000 (2.6%) in 2029/30.
Estimates have been rounded to the nearest 50,000 and are on a UK basis. The poverty impacts are independent of the underlying trends in poverty so they are not an estimate of the total change in poverty over time.
The model used to produce this estimate is a pre-Spring Statement model and will be updated with the policies announced at the Spring Statement in due course.
Delivering our manifesto commitment to tackle child poverty is an urgent priority for this Government, and we will bring forward the Child Poverty Strategy as soon as we are able.
The Strategy will look at all available levers across four key themes of increasing incomes, including considering social security reforms, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience; and better local support especially in the early years. This will build on the reform plans underway across Government and work underway in Devolved Governments.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of trends in the level of working-age adults who are in work and live in (a) absolute and (b) relative poverty after housing costs.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Statistics on the number of working-age adults living in absolute and relative poverty after housing costs by family work status in the UK are published annually in the “Households Below Average Income” publication at Households below average income: for financial years ending 1995 to 2023 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)(opens in a new tab). The latest available data can also be found on Stat-Xplore (https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/) in the Households Below Average Income dataset. The latest statistics were published on 21 March 2025 and are for the financial period 2023/24.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
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 who (a) receive Personal Independence Payment and (b) will no longer be eligible for the award as a result of the introduction of the four point requirement on a single descriptor on the daily living activities assessment criteria who are living with a child in (i) absolute and (ii) relative poverty after housing costs.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Statistics on the number of individuals living in families with children that are in absolute and/or relative poverty and where at least one member is in receipt of Personal Independence Payment are published on Stat-Xplore ( https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/) in the Households Below Average Income dataset. The latest statistics were published on 21 March 2025 and are for the financial year 2023/24.
The government's impact assessment regarding Health and Disability Reform is available at Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Impacts.
No assessment has been made of the number of people living with a child who will no longer be eligible for a Personal Independence Payment award as a result of the introduction of the four point requirement on a single descriptor on the daily living activities assessment criteria who are living in poverty. However, the department has estimated that 50,000 families with children who were estimated to be in relative poverty after housing costs before the policy change will lose income as a result of this policy change in the financial year 2029/30. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 50,000 families due to uncertainties inherent in the modelling approach. Analysis is at a Great Britian level, although to ensure consistency with the Households Below Average Income methodology, the relative poverty line has been calculated at a UK level. Changes to PIP have been modelled on an England and Wales basis given it is a devolved benefit. The analysis does not model any labour market impacts of this reform.
We are consulting on how best to support those who are no longer eligible for PIP and linked entitlements, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate she has made as to the number of people who (a) receive Personal Independence Payment and (b) will no longer be eligible for the award as a result of the introduction of the four point requirement on a single descriptor on the daily living activities assessment criteria who are living in (i) absolute and (ii) relative poverty after housing costs.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Statistics on the number of individuals living in families that are in absolute and/or relative poverty and where at least one member is in receipt of Personal Independence Payment are published on Stat-Xplore ( https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/) in the Households Below Average Income dataset. The latest statistics were published on 21 March 2025 and are for the financial year 2023/24.
The government's impact assessment regarding Health and Disability Reform is available at Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Impacts.
No assessment has been made of the number of people who will no longer be eligible for a Personal Independence Payment award as a result of the introduction of the four point requirement on a single descriptor on the daily living activities assessment criteria who are living in poverty. However, the department has estimated that 250,000 families who were estimated to be in relative poverty after housing costs before the policy change will lose income as a result of this policy change in the financial year 2029/30. Estimates are rounded to the nearest 50,000 families due to uncertainties inherent in the modelling approach. Analysis is at a Great Britian level, although to ensure consistency with the Households Below Average Income methodology, the relative poverty line has been calculated at a UK level. Changes to PIP have been modelled on an England and Wales basis given it is a devolved benefit. The analysis does not model any labour market impacts of this reform.
We are consulting on how best to support those who are no longer eligible for PIP and linked entitlements, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 42955 on Employment: Disability, whether her Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of measures in the Green Paper: Pathways to Work published on 18 March 2025, on (a) part-time and (b) full-time employment opportunities for (i) disabled people and (ii) people with health conditions by 2029-30.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer the Hon. member to the answer I gave on 7 April 2025 to PQ 42955.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant of the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 42955 on Employment: Disability, whether she plans to make that estimate.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
I refer the Hon. member to the answer I gave on 7 April 2025 to PQ 42955.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
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 who receive the Personal Independence Payment who have a terminal illness with a six month prognosis who will no longer be eligible following the introduction of the four point requirement on a single descriptor on the daily living activities assessment criteria.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We recognise that people nearing the end of their life are some of the most vulnerable people in society and need fast track and unqualified support at this difficult time.
People who claim, or an in receipt of, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and are nearing the end of their life with 12 months or less to live, will continue to be able to access the enhanced rate of the daily living component of PIP. We will also maintain the existing fast-track route under the Special Rules for End of Life and where claims are currently being cleared in two working days. This fast-track route will not be impacted by the new eligibility requirement for PIP.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the introduction of the four point requirement on a single descriptor on the daily living activities assessment criteria for Personal Independence Payments on affected people's (a) working life, (b) education, (c) health, (d) wellbeing and (e) human rights.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
No estimate has been made. The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost, as it would require a bespoke survey of claimants.
We are consulting on how best to support those who are no longer eligible for PIP and linked entitlements, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, on what evidential basis the requirement for four points on a single descriptor on the daily living activities assessment criteria for Personal Independence Payments was determined.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
PIP provides a contribution to extra costs, but over recent years claims have increased significantly, outstripping the growth in disability prevalence. Some people get PIP from scoring 1, 2 or 3 points, low-level functional needs which could individually be managed with small interventions or the addition of an aid or appliance. We believe that focussing PIP on those with a higher level of functional need in at least one activity - people who are unable to complete activities at all, or who require more help from others to complete them – is the right thing to do to keep the costs of PIP sustainable.
Asked by: Apsana Begum (Labour - Poplar and Limehouse)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant of the Answer of 7 April 2025 to Question 42059 on Social Security Benefits: Reform, whether her Department plans to make an assessment of the potential impact of the measures in the Green Paper: Pathways to Work, published on 18 March 2025 on (a) the health of those people receiving related benefits and (b) societal health inequalities.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
A programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper and to monitor and evaluate their impact will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.