Employment and Support Allowance: Underpayments

Stephen Timms Excerpts

Monday 25th February 2019 Commons Chamber

[Sarah Newton]

My hon. Friend makes a good point. In not only the process for claiming new benefits but this particular exercise, a lot of effort is going into ensuring that we find people and engage with them to check whether they are eligible for these additional payments. That happens through letters, telephone calls and even home visits, to ensure that we contact people in the most appropriate way possible for them.

[Stephen Timms (East Ham) (Lab)]

What is the Minister’s current estimate for how long it is going to take to complete this exercise and to correct all these very serious mistakes?

[Sarah Newton]

We anticipate completing the exercise this year.