Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the effect on universal credit claimants who have been awarded the limited work capacity (LWC) element in addition to their basic element of the wait to be awarded the extra element.

People who claim Universal Credit due to having a health condition or disability, and have been determined to have limited capability for work (LCW) or limited capability for work and work related activity (LCWRA) following a work capability assessment, may be entitled to an additional amount of benefit. However, the additional amount for having LCW is not payable for a health related claim made on or after 3 April 2017. Only health related claims made on or after that date and where the claimant is determined as having LCWRA will have access to an additional amount of benefit.

The additional amount for having LCWRA may only become payable from the beginning of the assessment period following the assessment period in which the relevant period ends. The relevant period is the 3 month period starting from the first day on which the claimant provides evidence of their having a health condition or disability which limits their capability for work. This means that all claimants who are determined to have LCWRA - with some exceptions, for example where the claimant is terminally ill and is not expected to live for more than 6 months - have to serve a three month relevant period.

The relevant period is used, before payment of the additional amount for having LCWRA can be made, to establish that the claimant has a long-term health condition or disability. During the relevant period the claimant is made financially secure through being paid the Universal Credit standard allowance, plus any additional amounts to which they may be entitled, such as those for children and housing costs.