Clause 2
Welfare Reform Bill
5:45 pm
John Robertson (PPS (Dr Kim Howells, Minister of State), Foreign & Commonwealth Office; Glasgow North West, Labour)
I am still trying not to be weak, Mr. Hood, although it was difficult during the last contributions.
Amendments Nos. 174 to 179 are to do with the assessment phase. They are probing amendments; I intend to tease from the Government more information about how we can help those who most need it. The amendments would ensure that young people were not discriminated against during the assessment phase and that sick and disabled persons received the appropriate support from the beginning of their claim, rather than from the end of the fixed assessment phase.
The issue of the 13-week assessment period and the problems that would ensue during it was raised by a number of hon. Members on Second Reading. In their Green Paper and consultation report, the Government accepted that they did not intend to penalise young people by aligning the basic rates of main-phase ESA with jobseeker’s allowance rates. That was mentioned previously, and it is reflected in the Bill. However, young people appear to be penalised during the assessment phase, as the holding benefit is paid in line with JSA rates. That discrimination will leave some sick and disabled people with inadequate incomes for three months, simply because of their age.
The amendments would also remove the requirement for the assessment phase to have ended before the work-related activity or support component is paid. The Bill proposes that those who can be immediately identified as severely disabled and eligible for the support group will receive only JSA rates for the first three months of their claim—substantially below what might be their real entitlement.
The amendments would enable all claimants who subsequently pass the personal capability assessment to go on to the main phase of ESA and receive the appropriate financial support from the start of the claim, rather than from the end of the 13-week period. The Bill proposes that such people will be paid only JSA rates for those 13 weeks; they are well below the financial support required by sick and disabled pensioners and could increase poverty and social exclusion. As I said earlier, many colleagues raised the 13-week assessment period on Second Reading. It is of concern not just to them but to many of the groups that have aided and abetted us. It is time that I mentioned some of them. The Child Poverty Action Group, Disability Alliance, Citizens Advice, Citizens Advice in Scotland, CPAG in Scotland, Barnardo’s, Poverty Alliance and Margaret Blackwood Housing Association all associate themselves with the amendments. A broad range of concerned bodies have made these suggestions.
Is it not unfair that people who will be rewarded should have to wait 13 weeks for an assessment as to whether they are entitled to money that they should get? They may experience payment problems or have to live in poverty for that length of time only because of their age and disability. What kind of help or assistance will be given to those who find themselves in debt because of their age or the assessment? I hope that my hon. Friend will answer those points.