Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department is taking steps with Cabinet colleagues to provide financial support to keyworkers with long covid.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a range of issues.
The DWP already offers financial support through Universal Credit and New Style Employment and Support Allowance for people who are unable to work due to long-Covid, subject to them satisfying the eligibility criteria and contribution conditions. In addition, people with Long-Covid may be eligible for Personal Independence Payment. This support is available regardless of keyworker status. The department is not currently planning to establish a hardship fund for keyworkers with Long-Covid.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if his Department will make an assessment of the potential merits of establishing a hardship fund for keyworkers with long covid.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
I have regular discussions with ministerial colleagues on a range of issues.
The DWP already offers financial support through Universal Credit and New Style Employment and Support Allowance for people who are unable to work due to long-Covid, subject to them satisfying the eligibility criteria and contribution conditions. In addition, people with Long-Covid may be eligible for Personal Independence Payment. This support is available regardless of keyworker status. The department is not currently planning to establish a hardship fund for keyworkers with Long-Covid.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of extending the eligibility criteria for the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit to keyworkers with long covid.
Answered by Tom Pursglove
The department is advised by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council (IIAC), an independent scientific body, on changes to the list of occupational diseases for which Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit can be paid.
Their report, ‘COVID-19 and Occupational Impacts’, was published in November 2022 and recommended prescription for health and social care workers with five serious pathological complications following COVID-19 infection. The department is currently carrying out a detailed assessment of the report’s recommendations. Once this work is complete, the department will provide a formal response.
IIAC considered that the evidence is not, at present, sufficient to recommend prescription for Long Covid. IIAC will continue to investigate the occupational implications of COVID-19, including any post-infection associations.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing linking rules to Universal Credit.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
No assessment has been made of the potential merits of introducing linking rules to Universal Credit.
Linking rules were not carried over into Universal Credit. This is because Universal Credit is a separate, simplified benefit system. Instead, each Universal Credit claim is assessed in its own right. However, Universal Credit does have a reclaims process, which provides a simple route back onto Universal Credit for claimants who experience a short break in entitlement. This process also reduces the administrative burden on claimants and encourages them to increase their earnings and protects them in periods of reduced employment.
Asked by: Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party - Edinburgh North and Leith)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, for what reason her Department decided not to carry over linking rules to the Universal Credit system.
Answered by Baroness Prentis of Banbury
No assessment has been made of the potential merits of introducing linking rules to Universal Credit.
Linking rules were not carried over into Universal Credit. This is because Universal Credit is a separate, simplified benefit system. Instead, each Universal Credit claim is assessed. However, Universal Credit does have a reclaims process, which provides a simple route back onto Universal Credit for claimants who experience a short break in entitlement. This process also reduces the administrative burden on claimants and encourages them to increase their earnings and protects them in periods of reduced employment.