Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether guidance is provided to departmental staff and contractors on communicating to claimants how they can establish a source of income during the mandatory reconsideration of their benefit claim; and if she will make a statement.

Guidance is provided to staff to enable them to advise claimants on the options available during the mandatory reconsideration process. This includes signposting claimants to Gov.uk to check eligibility for alternative benefits. DWP also issues decision letters to claimants which include information on the options available to them during the mandatory reconsideration process, dependant on benefit. As DWP has responsibility for the mandatory reconsideration process, contractors will refer claimants to DWP to discuss benefit entitlement and options available.