Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether her Department has taken steps to to identify and inform claimants affected by underpayment of Employment Support Allowance of the right to request compensation.

The Employment and Support Allowance underpayment exercise was completed in June 2021. We have ensured people have been rightly identified and reimbursed arrears owed, making 118,000 benefit arrears payments in full.

Given our duty to protect public money the decision was taken not to award blanket compensation for these cases. However, where an individual feels their circumstances are exceptional and they may be eligible for a Special Payment, they can contact the Department and set out their reasons. All requests received will be considered on a case-by-case basis.