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Lord in Waiting/Government Whip (Lord Cryer) (Lab)

Speaking in the House of Lords on 9 January 2025

Debate

Benefits: Eligibility

Contribution

My Lords, before I answer the noble Viscount’s Question, I briefly pay tribute to Alan Haselhurst—Baron Haselhurst—who retired from this place during the Christmas Recess. When I was first elected to the other place in 1997, Alan was the Senior Deputy Speaker and always dealt with the many new MPs with a great deal of patience. I do not remember him ever losing his temper, despite my best efforts, and he was a great Deputy Speaker. He will be much missed, certainly by me. I am in danger of waxing lyrical, so I had better get to the Question. I am grateful to the noble Lord for his Question. The work capability assessment—the WCA—determines eligibility for ESA and the additional health-related amount of universal credit. It assesses an individual against a set of legal definitions to determine their ability to work. The department prioritises WCAs for new claims; reassessments occur when there is a need to redetermine capability for work, which itself is a separate process. The frequency of when claims are reassessed is determined by an understandably limited capacity.

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