Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what support his Department provides to disabled people who claim universal credit.

Universal Credit is simpler and fairer than the legacy system and is designed in a way that better reflects the extra costs disabled people can face and the extra support available for costs of care.

In designing the system we place the needs of the people at the heart of the claimant journey and we are moving to a model of a dedicated work coach, who facilitates access to an integrated support network which can adapt and be tailored to a person’s health needs. It also, for the first time, helps people with a disability or health condition, who are already in work, to remain there and to progress their position and earnings with confidence and support.

We engage with claimants through a variety of communication methods and are able to provide flexible support when needed. Claimants may also be referred to a range of specialist support and provision, to help meet any skills needs or help them move into work more quickly.