Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 6 March 2018 to Question 130566, what guidance is provided to Jobcentre staff to ensure that the work requirements they prescribe do not necessitate medical treatment.

The Department’s guidance for Decision Makers on this matter is contained in Decision Makers Guidance memo 1/18 for Employment & Support Allowance. This is also covered in Advice for Decision Makers memo 2/18 for Employment & Support Allowance and Universal Credit.

As was stated in the answer to question 130566, we would not ask for a claimant to undergo medical treatment as part of their requirements.

All claimants placed in the Support Group are not expected to do any work related activity.

While those claimants placed in the Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) are supported through work related activity, we have several processes in place to ensure this activity does not place undue stress on the claimant. For example:

• No WRAG claimant is expected to be applying for jobs or working
• No WRAG claimant is expected to undertake WRA outside their youngest child’s normal school hours if the claimant is a lone parent with a child under the age of 13.
• No WRAG claimant is expected to undertake WRA if they are a lone child etc.