Employment: Carers and Lone Parents

(asked on 16th September 2025) - View Source

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what guidance his Department has issued to work coaches on (a) tailoring (i) work and (ii) work search requirements for a (A) single parent and (B) lead carer down from a maximum of 30 hours a week to reflect their circumstances and (b) temporarily removing the requirement to (1) work and (2) search for work because of (a) bereavement, (b) fleeing domestic abuse and (c) other circumstances; and if he will publish that guidance.


Answered by
Stephen Timms Portrait
Stephen Timms
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
This question was answered on 15th October 2025

Work coaches have access to up-to-date guidance which includes information on tailoring work and work search categories for single parents and lead carers in a way that takes account of their circumstances. In certain circumstances the requirement to undertake work and work search activities can be eased, these include bereavement, fleeing domestic abuse and other circumstances as listed in the guidance below.

Universal Credit guidance is deposited in the House of Commons Library twice yearly. https://depositedpapers.parliament.uk/depositedpaper/2287171/files

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