Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:09 pm on 17 November 2016.

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Photo of Penny Mordaunt Penny Mordaunt The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions 3:09, 17 November 2016

I am going to make some progress. We offer personal budgeting support for those who are transferring to universal credit. That could include money advice, with a mix of online, telephone and face-to-face support. I am also looking at extending that service and considering what further support I could give.

For the sake of the record, I remind the House that the changes to WRAG due in April next year will not affect those who are already in receipt of ESA and universal credit or the equivalent. Further safeguards mean that they will not lose the extra payment even if they are reassessed after April and placed in the WRAG. I hope that that will reassure Tommy Sheppard, whom I cannot see here, and the two constituents that he mentioned yesterday, Dean and Lauren.