Asked by: Claire Hazelgrove (Labour - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that applicants' wellbeing is considered when undergoing an Access to Work assessment.
Answered by Alison McGovern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Access to Work applications are reviewed by Case Managers who work with customers to understand what barriers they may be experiencing within the workplace in relation to their health condition or disability. Staff take part in training events that provide them with information on a range of disabilities and health conditions so that they can better understand the challenges experienced by applicants.
When required, staff will work with specialist teams that help to identify customers who are vulnerable or have complex needs who require more advanced support.
Asked by: Claire Hazelgrove (Labour - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
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 adequacy of Disability Living Allowance assessments.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a non-contributory, non-means-tested, additional cost benefit and can be worth over £9,500 a year, tax free. Individuals can choose how to use the benefit, in the light of their individual needs and preferences. The benefits have been consistently uprated in line with inflation since they were introduced and were, like other benefits, increased by 6.7% from 8 April 2024.
Decisions on claims to DLA for children are made by DWP Case Managers. They receive comprehensive training and are supported by a range of regularly updated guides, such as the Decision Makers Guide and comprehensive medical guidance. They also receive disability-specific training and have the support of medical services and quality assurance managers.
Anyone who believes that the decision on their claim is incorrect, including the length of the award, can ask for Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) within one month of the date stated on the decision letter.
Asked by: Claire Hazelgrove (Labour - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
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 adequacy of Universal Credit entitlement for people with children not in full-time education due to (a) special educational needs and disabilities or (b) other health issues.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
No assessment has been made.
Asked by: Claire Hazelgrove (Labour - Filton and Bradley Stoke)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether ulcerative colitis is classified as an official disability; and what protections in law are available to people with that condition.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Government does not provide an exhaustive list of recognised or protected disabilities. Rather, the Equality Act 2010 (the Act) defines disability as “a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities”. The Act describes “long-term” as an impairment that has lasted, or is likely to last, for at least 12 months, or where the impairment is likely to last for the rest of a person’s life; while “substantial” is defined as an impairment that is more than minor or trivial.
The Act is clear that it is not necessary for the cause of the impairment to be established, nor does the impairment have to be the result of an illness. A disability can therefore arise from a wide range of impairments, and any person that falls within this definition - which may include those with ulcerative colitis - will already be protected as having a disability.