Written questions by Wrigley.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes in the cost of living on disabled people with complex needs.

We know disabled people face extra costs every day and this has been exacerbated by the increased cost of living. The Disability Unit has worked to understand and assess the full impact of the cost of living on disabled people, across a range of sectors, including energy. In order to understand more about the areas of extra costs faced by disabled people, DWP is undertaking a new survey of Personal Independence Payment customers.

What assessment she has made of the potential impact of changes to PIP eligibility on the (a) health and (b) economic security of people living with mental illnesses.

No such assessment has been made. We are taking action to focus PIP more on those with the greatest needs, by introducing a new eligibility requirement. The change to the PIP eligibility criteria will mean that people with a higher level of functional need – for example, people who are unable to complete activities at all, or who require more help from others to complete them – still receive PIP. We are also taking action to get the basics right and improve the experience for people who use the system of health and disability benefits as set out in the Green Paper. This includes exploring ways to improve PIP assessments through digitalising transfer of medical information, using evidence from eligibility for other services to reduce the need for people with very severe health conditions to undergo functional assessments and improving communication with people receiving awards who are expected to remain on disability benefits for life. We are consulting on how best to support those who are affected by the new eligibility changes, including how to make sure health and eligible care needs are met. PIP is not based on condition diagnosis but on functional disability as the result of one or more conditions, and is awarded as a contribution to the additional costs which result. We also intend to launch a wider review of the PIP assessment which I will lead, and 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. Information on the impacts of the Pathways to Work Green Paper has been published here ‘Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper’(opens in a new tab).A further programme of analysis to support development of the proposals in the Green Paper will be developed and undertaken in the coming months.

With reference to the Spring Statement 2025, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of welfare reforms on demand for food banks.

Since 2021, food bank use has been measured in official statistics by the number of individuals living in families that have used foodbanks in the past 30 days and 12 months. These are published on Stat-Xplore ( https://stat-xplore.dwp.gov.uk/), including breakdowns by Economic Status of the Adult, in the Households Below Average Income dataset. The latest statistics were published on 21 March 2025 and are for the financial year 2023/24. We monitor this data closely. We are committed to tackling food poverty and ending mass dependence of emergency food parcels. To inform this work, DWP officials have engaged with a range of organisations to better understand the complex food poverty landscape. We also continue to provide substantial funding to Local Authorities to support those most in need and are extending the Household Support Fund (HSF) by a further year until March 2026, providing funding of £742 million in England. This will ensure low-income households can continue to access support towards the cost of essentials, such as food.

If she will hold discussions with the Trussell Trust on her proposed (a) changes to the Personal Independence Payment and (b) other welfare reforms.

We are committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people and people with health conditions at the heart of everything we do. In the Green Paper, we have announced that we will set up collaboration committees to develop parts of our reforms further. This will involve bringing together disabled people and other experts with civil servants around specific issues to collaborate, provide ideas, challenge, and input into recommendations. We will continue discussions with disability stakeholders including the Trussell Trust on the proposed changes to the Personal Independence Payment benefit and other welfare reforms.

If she will take steps to publish an updated impact assessment on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill.

The Department published its Impact Assessment with the introduction of this Bill on the 22nd January 2025. It can be found here: ImpactAssessment.pdf.The Department has committed to produce a further Impact Assessment for the Eligibility Verification Measure within 12 months of Royal Assent of the Bill. There are no plans to provide a further Impact Assessment of other measures in the Bill beyond usual procedures.

Whether she has had recent discussions with Disability Rights UK on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill 2025.

The Department has extensively engaged a range of stakeholders on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill.This includes holding regular forums, which both Disability Rights UK and Big Brother Watch have attended, to provide stakeholders with the latest information on Bill measures and invite questions and feedback.

What recent discussions she has had with Big Brother Watch on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill 2025.

The Department has extensively engaged a range of stakeholders on the Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill.This includes holding regular forums, which both Disability Rights UK and Big Brother Watch have attended, to provide stakeholders with the latest information on Bill measures and invite questions and feedback.

If she will make an assessment of the potential impact of her proposed reforms to the welfare system on the poverty rate for households with at least one disabled (a) child and (b) adult.

No assessment has been made on this basis.Definitions of disability in the Policy Simulation Model, which is used to model poverty impacts of a policy, differ from those used in the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) poverty statistics. It has therefore not been possible to estimate the impact of the package on the level of poverty amongst individuals living in families with a disabled person, as this requires an estimate to be made using the HBAI definition. However, given the balance of the package we would expect much of the increase in poverty to be focused amongst individuals in this family type.The government's impact assessment regarding Health and Disability Reform is available at Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Impacts.

What steps her Department is taking to increase the take up of means-tested benefits among households with children in poverty.

I refer the honourable member to the answer given on 27 March 2025 to question UIN 41344.

With reference to the Social Metrics Commission's report entitled Measuring Poverty 2024, published in October 2024, if she will undertake a review of the finding that 47 per cent of families with at least one disabled child or adult were in poverty compared to 19 per cent of those families without a disabled person in 2022/23.

The government's impact assessment regarding Health and Disability Reform is available at Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Impacts. As part of our Plan for Change we're introducing the most far-reaching reforms in a generation, with £1 billion a year being invested to give people the best possible chance with tailored support that can be adapted to meet their changing circumstances - including their changing health – while also scrapping the failed Work Capability Assessment in Great Britain.

With reference to the Social Metrics Commission's report entitled Measuring Poverty 2024, published in October 2024, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for his Department's policies of the finding that 54 per cent of people in poverty lived in a family that included a disabled person in 2022/23.

The government's impact assessment regarding Health and Disability Reform is available at Spring Statement 2025 health and disability benefit reforms - Impacts. As part of our Plan for Change we're introducing the most far-reaching reforms in a generation, with £1 billion a year being invested to give people the best possible chance with tailored support that can be adapted to meet their changing circumstances - including their changing health – while also scrapping the failed Work Capability Assessment in Great Britain.

Pursuant to the Answer of 24 March 2025 to Question 39206 on Personal Independence Payment: Neurodiversity, if she will make it her policy to maintain the level of the Personal Independence Payment for (a) neurodivergent people and (b) people with severe mental distress.

Our intention is that the new eligibility requirement in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) 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 PIP assessment considers the needs arising from a long-term health condition or disability, not the health condition or disability itself. Therefore, the impact in each case will depend on an individual’s circumstances. From November 2026, at their next award review, people will be reviewed by a trained assessor or healthcare professional and assessed on individual needs and circumstance. More information on the impacts and equality analysis for these changes published on 26 March can be found: Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper - GOV.UK

If she will make an assessment of the potential merits of abolishing the lower standard rate of Universal Credit for under 25s.

There are no current plans to remove the under 25 Standard Allowance rate. Young people in work typically earn less than those over 25 and are also more likely to live in someone else’s household, with lower living costs. A reduced Universal Credit rate maintains the incentive for young people to find, and progress in, work, as we continue to support them into employment and to improve their career opportunities. Support is available to help those who live independently or have additional living costs. Depending on their circumstances, they may also be eligible for additional Universal Credit elements, including for housing, children, childcare costs, and disability.

If her Department will develop a longer term child poverty strategy.

The Child Poverty Taskforce is progressing urgent work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy, and we are exploring all available levers to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty. Our focus is on bringing about an enduring reduction in child poverty in this parliament, thereby reversing the trend that is seeing forecasts of child poverty continuing to increase. More details, including on the time horizon, will be set out in the strategy publication. We are supporting claimants to identify what support may be available including through providing extensive information on Universal Credit on Gov.uk. Additionally, we show potential customers external benefit calculators where they can identify what they are likely to be eligible for. We also work closely with Citizens Advice who provide Help to Claim support for claimants to make a claim to Universal Credit, including marketing and publicising Help to Claim support.

What steps her Department is taking to increase the take up of means-tested benefits amongst households with children in poverty.

The Child Poverty Taskforce is progressing urgent work to publish the Child Poverty Strategy, and we are exploring all available levers to drive forward short and long-term actions across government to reduce child poverty. Our focus is on bringing about an enduring reduction in child poverty in this parliament, thereby reversing the trend that is seeing forecasts of child poverty continuing to increase. More details, including on the time horizon, will be set out in the strategy publication. We are supporting claimants to identify what support may be available including through providing extensive information on Universal Credit on Gov.uk. Additionally, we show potential customers external benefit calculators where they can identify what they are likely to be eligible for. We also work closely with Citizens Advice who provide Help to Claim support for claimants to make a claim to Universal Credit, including marketing and publicising Help to Claim support.

With reference to the report by the Trussell Trust entitled Almost one in five people receiving Universal Credit and disability benefits used a food bank in the last month, published on 7 March 2025, if she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the finding that 19% of people claiming universal credit and disability benefits report using a food bank.

No one should have to turn to a food bank. This is why we are committed to tackling poverty and ending mass dependence on emergency food parcels. We know that good work can significantly reduce the chances of people falling into poverty. As set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper, we will target and tackle economic inactivity and unemployment and provide health and skills support to meet the needs of local communities. Alongside this, our plan to Make Work Pay will help more people stay in work, make work more secure, and improve living standards including by increasing the National Living Wage to £12.21 an hour from April, boosting pay for 3 million workers. The Government recognises the critical role Universal Credit plays in tackling poverty and making work pay. Change is needed, which is why we are actively reviewing Universal Credit. We will introduce the Fair Repayment Rate in April, reducing the cap on deductions from 25% to 15%. The benefits rate will increase by a further 1.7% from April onwards, in line with inflation.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of the article by the Trussell Trust entitled Almost one in five people receiving Universal Credit and disability benefits used a food bank in the last month, published on 7 March 2025.

No one should have to turn to a food bank. This is why we are committed to tackling poverty and ending mass dependence on emergency food parcels. We know that good work can significantly reduce the chances of people falling into poverty. As set out in the Get Britain Working White Paper, we will target and tackle economic inactivity and unemployment and provide health and skills support to meet the needs of local communities. Alongside this, our plan to Make Work Pay will help more people stay in work, make work more secure, and improve living standards including by increasing the National Living Wage to £12.21 an hour from April, boosting pay for 3 million workers. The Government recognises the critical role Universal Credit plays in tackling poverty and making work pay. Change is needed, which is why we are actively reviewing Universal Credit. We will introduce the Fair Repayment Rate in April, reducing the cap on deductions from 25% to 15%. The benefits rate will increase by a further 1.7% from April onwards, in line with inflation.

If she will make an assessment of the potential implications for her policies of OBR forecasts on the percentage of GDP spent on social security benefits in the next four years.

The OBR forecast for welfare spending as a percentage of GDP is expected to be 10.8% in 2029-30 once Spring Statement 2025 policy measures have been factored in. This compares to 10.9% without the incorporation of policy measures. These figures exclude spending consequences for the Scottish Block Grant adjustment arising from Spring Statement 2025 policy measures. 2024/252025/262026/272027/282028/292029/30Spring 25 policy package (excluding impacts on Scottish Block Grant Adjustment)0.00.10.11.73.34.4 Welfare spending as a % of GDP (Excluding expenditure on Scottish Block Grant Adjustment)2024/252025/262026/272027/282028/292029/30Spending as a % of GDP (no measures)10.9%10.9%11.0%10.9%10.8%10.9%Spending as a % of GDP (with SS25 policy package)10.9%10.9%11.0%10.8%10.7%10.8%Difference0.0%0.0%0.0%-0.1%-0.1%-0.1%

What steps she is taking to ensure that disabled people are adequacy supported through the benefits assessment process.

It is important that all claimants to 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. We have a variety of reasonable adjustments to make the claims process and communications easier for some of our most vulnerable customers. The process is kept under continual review to ensure it meets the needs of claimants and helps the Department provide an accurate assessment of an individual’s entitlement. Since PIP was created, the Department has introduced, for example, dial-in-for third parties, a digital PIP 2 questionnaire and evidence upload function, email as a reasonable adjustment and telephone and video assessments in addition to paper-based and face-to-face assessments. 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 exploring ways to use evidence from eligibility for other services to reduce the need for some people with very severe conditions to undergo a full PIP functional assessment. Over the longer term, the Health Transformation Programme is modernising health and disability benefit services to improve the customer experience. The Programme will transform the entire PIP service, introducing an option to apply and track applications online.We are exploring a case management model - a personalised approach for customers from initial contact through to the end of the application, including signposting to other benefits and services. This approach will help the Programme to better understand our customers, tailor their service, and help to build customer confidence and trust that their case is being progressed appropriately.

Whether she plans to increase (a) Statutory Maternity Pay and (b) Maternity Allowance beyond the rate of inflation over the next four years.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions is required by law to undertake an annual review of benefits and State Pensions, including Statutory Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance. She announced her decision from the latest review of benefits in a Written Ministerial Statement to Parliament on 30 October. From April 2025, the rate will increase by September 2024's CPI figure of 1.7%, from £184.03 to £187.18 per week.Government spends approximately £3 billion a year on parental payments. Any changes to the system would need to consider the needs of parents, the availability of resources and the impact on employers, and be made in consultation with businesses and stakeholders. Parental pay is only one element of the support available for parents. Depending on individual circumstances, additional financial support, for example, Universal Credit, Child Benefit and the Sure Start Maternity Grant (a lump sum payment of £500) may also be available.