Written questions by Stride.

With reference to the press notice entitled New Chance to Work Guarantee will remove barriers to work for millions, published on 22 November 2023, what her Department's (a) planned timetable is bringing the Chance to Work Guarantee into effect and (b) policy is on reassessments of claimants on the (i) Employment and Support Allowance and the (ii) Universal Credit health journey (1) before and (2) after the planned changes to the Work Capability Assessment descriptors are implemented; and what steps she plans to take to review her Department's policy on reassessments for claimants on health-related benefits who move into employment.

We are committed to delivering on our manifesto pledge to give disabled people the confidence to start working without the fear of an immediate benefit reassessment if it does not work out. We will set out plans for this in due course.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 6515 on Social Security Benefits: Disability, what steps she plans to take to reform Personal Independence Payments; and what assessment she has made of the factors driving the rising (a) caseloads and (b) expenditure on that benefit.

We will be considering our own response to social security in due course, informed by a range of evidence. This Government is committed to championing the rights of disabled people and to the principle of working with them, so that their views and voices will be at the heart of all that we do.

What plans her Department has to make changes to the Access to Work scheme.

The Access to Work Scheme provides grant funding for disabled people, and those with a health condition, who are in or about to start work. The grant supports with workplace adjustments that go beyond what would normally be expected from an employer through their duty to provide reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 The Department for Work and Pensions is committed to reducing waiting times for new applications for Access to Work, as well as renewals. We are considering the best way to deliver that for customers. We have increased the number of staff processing Access to Work claims and have prioritised applications from customers who are about to start a job, and renewals.

Whether she plans to implement the changes to the Work Capability Assessment that were announced at the Autumn Statement 2023.

Labour’s manifesto is clear that we intend to reform the Work Capability Assessment alongside a proper plan to support disabled people to work. We will say more about these plans in the months ahead, including genuine employment support for disabled people.