Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment she has made of the potential effect of reintroducing (a) benefits sanctions and (b) welfare conditionality for disabled claimants during the covid-19 outbreak on the financial security of those claimants.

In response to the Covid-19 outbreak, we are financially supporting an unprecedented number of new and existing benefit claimants and have made a number changes to the benefits system. At the start we switched off conditionality for all claimants, supporting people during very uncertain times. After 1st July, we began to reintroduce Claimant Commitments. Any work related activity which may be agreed by disabled people as part of this Commitment, continues to be tailored in light of their health condition to ensure it is reasonable.

We ensure that our more vulnerable claimants are further protected by exempting those with more serious medical conditions and disabilities from any form of conditionality and sanctions. Our guidance continues to be tailored in light of the ongoing public health situation, the national working environment and of their health condition to ensure it is reasonable.