Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to paragraph 3.25 of the Autumn Statement 2023, whether he has had recent discussions with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of plans to strengthen the Universal Credit sanctions regime on the health and wellbeing of claimants.

The measures announced at Autumn Statement 2023 are designed to ensure that individuals that can work, will engage with support and opportunities available to them.

Additionally, the Autumn Statement claim closure measure will not be applied where the customer receives additional amounts of Universal Credit for a disability, or where they have a new, or pre-existing vulnerability which impacts on their ability to look for, or to take up work.

The conditionality and sanctions regime does not apply to those with Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity and where an individual on a work-related benefit has a health condition or a disability, work coaches have the discretion to tailor their conditionality requirements to what is reasonable and achievable – these requirements can also be lifted for a period if an individual’s ability to carry them out is disrupted due to their personal circumstances.