Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of delays in employment and support allowance assessments on people who lose their income based benefit waiting for that assessment.

Employment and Support Allowance claimants are usually paid the assessment rate of the benefit while waiting for their assessment. Where appropriate, arrears of Employment and Support allowance will be automatically backdated.