Recommendations & Conclusions
6 items
1
Recommendation
Second Report - Benefit levels in the UK
Accepted
The Department should set out when it intends to conclude its review of research on the experience of carers.
Government response. The government has confirmed its intention to publish the research into the experiences of claiming Carer’s Allowance and states the Department will set out timescales for this publication shortly.
Department for Work and Pensions
6
Conclusion
Second Report - Benefit levels in the UK
Accepted
Support provided through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is not operating as intended. Evidence suggests that insufficient means-tested benefits frequently necessitate PIP recipients to use their extra costs benefits to cover day-to-day living costs. (Paragraph 98) Benefit levels in the U 75
Government response. The government agrees that Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is not operating as intended and refers to its recently published 'Modernising Support for Independent Living: The Health and Disability Green Paper,' which explores ways to improve support for disabled people.
Department for Work and Pensions
7
Conclusion
Second Report - Benefit levels in the UK
Accepted
DWP has not clearly stated the extent to which PIP should contribute towards the extra costs incurred by claimants with a health condition or disability. We heard that for some claimants, the shortfall in support provided was significant enough to worsen physical and mental health outcomes, as well as to …
Government response. The government clarifies that Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is intended to provide a contribution towards extra costs, giving recipients flexibility, and highlights significant spending on PIP and additional Cost of Living Payments for disabled people.
Department for Work and Pensions
8
Conclusion
Second Report - Benefit levels in the UK
Accepted
We welcome the Government’s recommitment in its February 2024 Disability Action Plan to take forward plans to set up an Extra Costs Taskforce to understand the extra costs disabled people face in their daily lives. DWP should be part of the Extra Costs Taskforce. Once operationalised, DWP should use findings …
Government response. The government is restarting work on the Extra Costs Taskforce, with the Disability Unit working on a project plan and engaging DWP and other departments. However, it states that setting a benchmark for PIP coverage using the Taskforce's findings would …
Department for Work and Pensions
12
Recommendation
Second Report - Benefit levels in the UK
Accepted
There remains uncertainty for some benefits each year as to whether they will be uprated. We agree with the assessment of the Secretary of State that it is important that “there is an element of fairness to the consistency” of how uprating decisions are made. From financial year 2025–26, the …
Government response. The government did not commit to a new 'Uprating Guarantee', explaining that existing law mandates price-linked increases for certain benefits and, by convention, discretionary benefits are typically increased annually in line with CPI.
Department for Work and Pensions
19
Conclusion
Second Report - Benefit levels in the UK
Accepted
We are concerned that there is not sufficient capacity in the system to absorb the number of claimants who will be made subject to conditionality, or increased conditionality, following announcements made in the 2023 Spring Budget and 2023 Autumn Statement, as well as planned changes to the Work Capability Assessment. …
Government response. The Department committed to publishing quarterly full-time equivalent (FTE) statistics for Work Coaches, Disability Employment Advisers, and Disability Employment Adviser Leaders. However, it rejected publishing average Work Coach caseload sizes, stating it would not provide clarity on support levels.
Department for Work and Pensions