Written Question
Friday 23rd March 2018
Asked by:
Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh and Atherton)
Question
to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what work capability assessment exemptions exist for people diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
Answered by Sarah Newton
Entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance is based on how a person’s health condition affects their functional capability to work. This means that we do not make exemptions from the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) process based solely on medical conditions.
However I met representatives of the Motor Neurone Disease Association in February 2018, and listened to their concerns regarding the reassessment process. I have asked officials to look into the issues they raised.
I have assured the Association that I will look carefully at how the reassessment process works for people with Motor Neurone Disease, and will consider change where this is possible.
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 14 Mar 2018
Women and Work
"I will do my best, Sir David. I thank you for calling me, and I congratulate the hon. Member for Redditch (Rachel Maclean) on securing this debate. It is a particular honour to speak on this important subject in the year of the 100th anniversary of women gaining the right …..."Jo Platt - View Speech
View all Jo Platt (LAB - Leigh and Atherton) contributions to the debate on: Women and Work
Written Question
Friday 9th February 2018
Asked by:
Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh and Atherton)
Question
to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with motor neurone disease were awarded personal independence payment at (a) the enhanced rate for daily living and mobility, (b) the standard rate for daily living and the enhanced rate for mobility, (c) the standard rate for mobility and the enhanced rate for daily living and (d) the standard rate for daily living and mobility between 6 April 2016 and 5 April 2017.
Answered by Sarah Newton
The table below shows the number of people awarded Personal Independence Payment (PIP) with motor neurone disease, as recorded on the PIP Computer System, that were awarded either one or both of the Mobility and Daily living rates of PIP between 6th April 2016 and 5th April 2017.
Table showing number of people awarded PIP by award level between 6th April 2016 and 5th April 2017 with main disabling condition recorded as Motor Neurone Disease.
PIP Daily Living Award Type | PIP Current Mobility Award Type |
Mobility Award - Enhanced | Mobility Award - Standard |
Daily Living - Enhanced | 650 | 40 |
Daily Living - Standard | 40 | 30 |
Source: PIP Computer System.
Notes:
- Figures are based on the first outcome recorded for each case and include both new claims and DLA reassessment claims assessed under both normal rules and special rules.
- Data has been rounded to the nearest 10 cases; totals less than 5 but greater than 0 are indicated by “#”.
- This is unpublished data and it should be used with caution and it may be subject to future revision.
- Data is based on main disabling condition as recorded on the PIP computer system. Claimants may often have multiple disabling conditions upon which the decision is based but only the primary condition is shown in these statistics.
- Data taken from the PIP computer system’s management information.
- Figures are for Great Britain only.
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 31 Jan 2018
Personal Independence Payments
"I thank my hon. Friend for securing this debate. I have lost several members of my family to motor neurone disease, a progressive disease for which there is no cure—people do not get better. Does she agree that people with terminal illnesses such as MND should not be up for …..."Jo Platt - View Speech
View all Jo Platt (LAB - Leigh and Atherton) contributions to the debate on: Personal Independence Payments
Speech in Commons Chamber - Thu 14 Dec 2017
Pension Equality for Women
"I thank my hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Grahame Morris) for securing this debate.
The Government’s shambolic handling of this situation is the rightful source of much frustration and anger from women born in the 1950s. As we have heard from Members on both sides of the House, the …..."Jo Platt - View Speech
View all Jo Platt (LAB - Leigh and Atherton) contributions to the debate on: Pension Equality for Women
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 05 Dec 2017
Universal Credit Project Assessment Reviews
"My local authority, Wigan Council, was part of the pilot for UC, which subsequently caused rent arrears, payment delays and increasing financial pressures on the local authority. Does my hon. Friend agree that if these project assessment reviews had been released when the Information Commissioner ruled, the Government could have …..."Jo Platt - View Speech
View all Jo Platt (LAB - Leigh and Atherton) contributions to the debate on: Universal Credit Project Assessment Reviews
Written Question
Wednesday 8th November 2017
Asked by:
Jo Platt (Labour (Co-op) - Leigh and Atherton)
Question
to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people claiming universal credit in Leigh have requested an advance on their payments in each of the last four years.
Answered by Damian Hinds
There is no data broken down by area or region. The latest statistics on Universal Credit Advances were published on 02 October 2017 which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/universal-credit-payment-advances-may-2016-to-june-2017. This shows that, in July 2017, 8,400 new claims to UC Full Service received either a New Claim or Benefit Transfer Advance. This represents 52% of new claims that are eligible for a UC payment.
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 25 Oct 2017
Supported Housing
"Thank you, Mr Speaker, for allowing me to speak in this important debate. First, may I welcome the Government’s U-turn, which the Prime Minister announced earlier today? Although we await further details, I am pleased the Government have finally listened to the multiple charities, housing providers and two Select Committees, …..."Jo Platt - View Speech
View all Jo Platt (LAB - Leigh and Atherton) contributions to the debate on: Supported Housing
Speech in Commons Chamber - Wed 18 Oct 2017
Universal Credit Roll-out
"Universal credit was introduced to Leigh in 2013 as part of the local authority pilot, and there are currently 1,800 recipients in the area. I was, therefore, shocked to hear the Prime Minister claim at the Dispatch Box last week that the flaws in the universal credit roll-out were just …..."Jo Platt - View Speech
View all Jo Platt (LAB - Leigh and Atherton) contributions to the debate on: Universal Credit Roll-out
Speech in Westminster Hall - Wed 05 Jul 2017
State Pension Age for Women
"My hon. Friend is right on that point. There are 4,000 WASPI women in Leigh and they have had to set up their own group to support other women who are affected by the changes. From the time they found out what they had not initially been made aware of, …..."Jo Platt - View Speech
View all Jo Platt (LAB - Leigh and Atherton) contributions to the debate on: State Pension Age for Women