Written questions by Perteghella.

What steps she is taking to ensure the adequacy of Personal Independence Payment assessments in ensuring support for people in need.

It is important that all people claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are able to access our services and that they do not face obstacles in applying and communicating with the Department and its providers. In the Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working published on 18 March we outline plans to improve the experience for people who use the health and disability benefits system, including recording more assessments to improve people’s trust in the assessment process through greater transparency and using recordings as a learning opportunity to consider potential improvements to the quality of the assessment process and to be available to people who are appealing the initial award given. We also announced plans to launch a process to review the PIP assessment. We will bring together a range of experts, stakeholders and people with lived experience to consider how best to do this and to start the process as part of preparing for a review. We will provide further details as plans progress. The Health Transformation Programme is also transforming the entire PIP service, including introducing the option to apply and track applications online. The transformed service will improve how we gather health information, and tailor the process to the customer’s needs and circumstances, offering a better customer experience and improving trust in our services and decisions.

Whether she plans to provide additional support for young people with lifelong conditions following reforms to the Universal Credit health top-up.

The Pathways to Work Green Paper is an important staging post on a journey of reform. It sets out our vision, strategy and proposals for change. Before any decisions are made, we are consulting on the design options for a work, health and skills support package. We are specifically seeking input on the proposal to raise the age of eligibility for the health element of the Universal Credit (UC) award to 22. The government will actively engage with a diverse range of stakeholders, including young people with health conditions and disabilities. This consultation is now open and will close on 30th June.As we set out at point 256 in the Pathways to Work Green Paper: “Delaying access to the UC health element would remove any potential disincentive to work during this time. Proceeding with this change would be on the basis that resources could be better spent on improving the quality and range of opportunities available to young people through the [Youth] guarantee, so they can sign up to work or training rather than long-term benefits.” Such a change could support the establishment of a distinct and active transition phase for young people, based on learning or earning for all.

What steps she is taking to ensure that disabled people receive support following reforms to PIP.

There will be no immediate changes. Our intention is that the new eligibility requirement in Personal Independence Payment in which people must score a minimum of four points in one daily living activity to be eligible for the daily living component, will apply to new claims and award reviews from November 2026, subject to parliamentary approval. The department already has processes in place to support and safeguard people who use our services, and we will continue to provide this support as changes are taken forward. We are mindful of the impact of this change and, as such, in the Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working published on 18 March we are consulting on how best to support those who lose entitlement due to the reforms, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met.

What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help reduce child poverty in Stratford-on-Avon constituency.

Delivering our manifesto commitment to tackle child poverty is an urgent priority for this Government, and the Ministerial Taskforce is working to publish a Child Poverty Strategy which will deliver lasting change. The Strategy will look at levers across four key themes of increasing incomes, reducing essential costs, increasing financial resilience; and better local support especially in the early years. This will build on the reform plans underway across Government and work underway in Devolved Governments. The vital work of the Taskforce comes alongside our commitments to triple investment in breakfast clubs to over £30 million, roll out free breakfast clubs at all primary schools, create 3,000 additional nurseries, and increase the National Living Wage to £12.21 an hour from April 2025 to boost the pay of 3 million workers.

If she will have discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on the potential for data sharing with the DVLA to enable applications for reduced rate vehicle excise duty to be made (a) online a

The Secretary of State and I have regular discussions with Ministerial colleagues on a range of issues affecting those receiving social security benefits, including those which may bring with them an entitlement to additional support from other Department...

What steps she is taking to ensure the equitability of payment amounts between the (a) old State Pension, awarded until 2016 and (b) new State Pension, awarded from 2016 onwards.

We are absolutely committed to supporting pensioners and giving them the dignity and security they deserve in retirement. It is not possible to make direct, like for like comparisons between State Pension amounts received under the pre 2016 State Pension ...

If she will make it her policy to (a) replace new Universal Credit claim (i) advance and (ii) benefit transfer loans with new claim grants and (b) to write off overpayments made in error.

As not all new UC customers require the same level of immediate support, replacing every new customer’s advance with a UC grant would lead to significantly increased expenditure and the potential for increased fraud and error in the social security system...

If she will make it her policy to maintain the link between Local Housing Allowance rates and rent cost increases each year.

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates were restored to the 30th percentile of local market rents from April 2024 for one year. Decisions on LHA for future years will be taken in the context of the Government’s missions, housing priorities, and the fiscal co...

Whether she has made an assessment of the adequacy of specialist input in PIP Reviews.

I have interpreted your question to refer to the adequacy of the input provided by the assessment supplier (AS) health professional (HP) during a PIP review. All decisions on entitlement to PIP, whether at initial claim or review, are made by DWP case man...

If she will make it her policy to reduce the frequency of PIP Reviews.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to her previous Question 6897 on 14 October. We continue to keep under review awards, their durations and award review periods.

If she will make it her policy to extend the length of time within which bereaved families can claim Bereavement Support Payments.

The 3-month time limit to claim the full amount of Bereavement Support Payment is consistent with most other benefits. An individual would need to be 21 months late in claiming Bereavement Support Payment to forfeit the entire benefit.

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the PIP review process on (a) vulnerable and (b) disabled claimants.

Regular reviews are a key feature of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and ensure that payments accurately match the current needs of claimants. Awards can be paid at one of eight rates dependent on the claimants needs. Award durations are based on the ...

If she will take steps to require pension funds to comply with the climate rules in the Paris Agreement.

Occupational pension schemes with assets of £1billion or more have been required to publish annual reports setting out how they are managing climate risks and opportunities in line with the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) since ...

What steps she plans to take to ensure the continuation of the triple lock on state pensions.

The Government has committed to up-rating the basic and new State Pensions by the Triple Lock for the length of this Parliament. Through our commitment to protect the Triple Lock, over 12 million pensioners will benefit. Over the course of this Parliament...

Whether she has made an estimate of how many unpaid carers of state pension age will be affected by the removal of the universal entitlement to Winter Fuel Payments.

Carers over State Pension age on low incomes can claim income-related benefits, such as Pension Credit. This can be paid to carers at a higher rate than those without caring responsibilities through the additional amount for carers. The additional amount ...

Whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of the removal of the universal entitlement to Winter Fuel Payments on (a) vulnerable and (b) low income pensioners.

The Government took account of the equality impacts in reaching its decision to link Winter Fuel Payments to receipt of Pension Credit and other qualifying income-related benefits in England and Wales from winter 2024-25. We know there are low-income pens...

If she will make an estimate of the number of pensioners whose income is less than 10% above the threshold for Pension Credit who will not qualify for Winter Fuel Payment during Winter 2024-25.

Information on number of pensioners whose income is less than 10% above the threshold for pension credit who will not qualify for the Winter Fuel Allowance during Winter 2024-25 is not held.

If she will make it her policy to bring forward legislative proposals for a compensation scheme for women who are (a) born in the 1950s and (b) not notified of changes to the age at which they could claim the State Pension.

As a newly formed Government we will need time to review and consider the Ombudsman’s report along with the evidence provided during the investigation. This Government respects the work of the Ombudsman. Now the election has concluded we need to consider the views that have been expressed on all sides. The issues outlined in the report are significant and complex, as such they require serious deliberation. Once this work has been undertaken, the Government/we will be in a position to outline its approach.