Disability Living Allowance

Work and Pensions – in the House of Commons at on 17 March 2025.

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Photo of Will Stone Will Stone Labour, Swindon North

What assessment she has made of the potential implications for her policies of recent trends in levels of Disability Living Allowance cases that have been incorrectly reduced to a lower rate without an explanation.

Photo of Stephen Timms Stephen Timms The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions, Minister for Equalities (Department for Education)

There should be no benefit decisions without explanation. Claim decisions should always be set out with the reasons. If a decision is unclear, or if the reasons for it are unclear, a further detailed verbal or written explanation can be requested and will be provided.

Photo of Will Stone Will Stone Labour, Swindon North

Will the Minister please outline how this Government will support young disabled people to have a positive engagement with the benefit system alongside work?

Photo of Stephen Timms Stephen Timms The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions, Minister for Equalities (Department for Education)

My hon. Friend is absolutely right to press for improvements. We want to change how we think about jobcentres and the benefit system. Our youth work coaches talk a lot to disabled young people and are very keen to help more. Our reforms are making that possible, by giving better help and support, and by opening up new opportunities for disabled young people up and down the country.

Photo of Jim Shannon Jim Shannon DUP, Strangford

My staff member, alongside me, does benefit applications, appeals and tribunals at least five days a week. She overturns 75% of applications in favour of the applicant, which tells me that there is something wrong with the system. I am worried sick for my constituents who suffer from mental and physical issues because of our 30-year conflict. There must be a system that protects my constituents and the people we all represent.

Photo of Stephen Timms Stephen Timms The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions, Minister for Equalities (Department for Education)

Again, the hon. Gentleman is right to call for improvements. We want to see improvements in assessments, and he is probably well aware that we will shortly be publishing a green paper with proposals for reform to the health and disability benefit system. We will have something to say about this in that document.

Disability Living Allowance

Allowance for those who need help looking after themselves. Not means tested.

Factsheet from RNID here: http://www.rnid.org.uk/html/factsheets/benefits_disability_allowance_and_deaf_people.htm

Official page from Department for Work and Pensions here: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/disability_liv_allowance.asp

disability living allowance

Allowance for those who need help looking after themselves. Not means tested.

Factsheet from RNID here: http://www.rnid.org.uk/html/factsheets/benefits_disability_allowance_and_deaf_people.htm

Official page from Department for Work and Pensions here: http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/disability_liv_allowance.asp

Minister

Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.

Green Paper

A Green Paper is a tentative report of British government proposals without any commitment to action. Green papers may result in the production of a white paper.

From wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_paper