Petition Make people on disability benefits eligible for the £650 one off payment.

On Wednesday 29 June, the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee held an evidence session where they questioned the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Thérèse Coffey MP. The session focused on the cost of living and how to support those on low incomes through the social security system.

Watch the session back: https://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/68472b0d-7a0e-4bf7-82dd-dbf7b49f069a?in=09:49:31

Read the transcript: https://committees.parliament.uk/oralevidence/10490/pdf/

What is the Work and Pensions Committee?

The Work and Pensions Committee examines the policies and spending of the Department for Work and Pensions, including benefits for people in and out of work, state pensions and how private pensions are regulated. It also scrutinises DWP's public bodies and other regulators. It's a cross-party committee and is independent of the Government.

Find out more on their website: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/164/work-and-pensions-committee/

You can get updates on their work by following the Committee on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/CommonsWorkPen

This is a ‘select committee’. Find out how Select Committees work:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c

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6 million people in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit will receive a £150 payment in September. If they are in receipt of a qualifying benefit, they will also receive the £650 payment.

The Government recognises the pressures people are facing with the cost of living. That is why it is providing over £15bn in targeted support for those with the greatest need. This brings the total package of Cost-of-Living support to £37bn this year.

This includes supporting millions of low-income households, receiving means-tested benefits across the UK with a one-off Cost of Living Payment of £650, paid in two instalments. 8 million families including disabled people, in receipt of a qualifying mean-tested income replacement benefit will receive this payment.

The Government recognises that disabled people face extra costs which is why 6 million disabled people who are in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit will receive a one-off Disability Cost-of-Living Payment worth £150. Households will receive a payment for each eligible disabled person.

Many disabled people will be eligible for both the £150 Disability Cost-of-Living Payment and the £650 Cost-of-Living Payment. Disabled pensioners will also benefit from the £300 increase in Winter Fuel Payments.

Nearly 60% of carers on low incomes who are of working age and on Carer’s Allowance claim either an income-related benefit through which they will be entitled to the £650 or a qualifying disability payment meaning they are entitled to the £150 disability one off payment.

In addition to the £15 billion targeted Cost-of-Living Support, millions of families will benefit from the

• a £400 energy rebate, for all domestic energy customers to support with electricity bills under the Energy Bills Support Scheme and

• a £150 Council Tax rebate in England for those in bands A-D

The Government is also providing an additional £500 million to help households with the cost of essentials, bringing the total funding for this support to £1.5 billion. In England, £421m will be used to further extend the Household Support Fund from October 2022 to March 2023. Guidance and individual local authority indicative allocations for this further extension to the Household Support Fund will be announced in due course.

This package of support is in addition to the £1.3 billion investment announced in 2021 to help those with disabilities get into and stay in work and ongoing work on reform through the Health and Disability White Paper due to be published later this year.

Department for Work and Pensions

This response was given on 1 July 2022. The Petitions Committee then requested a revised response, that more directly addressed the request of the petition.

6 million people in receipt of a qualifying disability benefit will receive a £150 payment in September. If they are in receipt of a qualifying benefit, they will also receive the £650 payment.

Our help for households with the cost of living helps all households but has prioritised those on low incomes, those with disability and pensioners.

Many disabled people will be eligible for both the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment and the £650 Cost of Living Payment. However, the £650 payment is only for those people in receipt of a qualifying means-tested benefit. The Government is not changing these qualifying criteria.

The £650 cost of living payment (split into 2 instalments of £326 and £324) is available to those on benefits such as Universal Credit or income-related ESA. This will support millions of low-income households.

The Government recognises that disabled people face particular cost of living pressures. That is why, in addition, up to 6 million disabled people who are in receipt of a disability benefit (including non means-tested benefits like PIP and contributory based ESA) will receive a one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment worth £150.

The Disability Cost of Living Payment is just one element of the help for households. Disabled pensioners will also benefit from the £300 increase in Winter Fuel Payments.

Nearly 60% of carers on low incomes who are of working age and on Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Element claim either an income-related benefit through which they could be entitled to the £326 and £324 Cost of Living Payment or a qualifying disability payment meaning they are entitled to the £150 disability one off payment.

In addition to the £15 billion targeted Cost-of-Living Support, millions of families will benefit from the

• a £400 energy rebate, for all domestic energy customers to support with electricity bills under the Energy Bills Support Scheme and

• a £150 Council Tax rebate in England for those in bands A-D

The Government is also providing an additional £500 million to help households with the cost of essentials, bringing the total funding for this support to £1.5 billion. In England, £421m will be used to further extend the Household Support Fund from October 2022 to March 2023. Guidance and individual local authority indicative allocations for this further extension to the Household Support Fund will be announced in due course. Authorities should particularly consider how they can support low-income households that cannot increase their income through work, including people with disabilities and unpaid carers. The Household Support Fund is principally intended to be used to support households with energy, food and water costs, although support with wider essentials can also be considered under the scope of the scheme. We know energy bills may be of particular concern to low-income households and so Local Authorities are being encouraged to focus on supporting households with the cost of energy.

This package of support is in addition to the £1.3 billion investment announced in 2021 to help those with disabilities get into and stay in work and ongoing work on reform through the Health and Disability White Paper due to be published later this year.

DWP has comprehensive guidance for colleagues in how to support customers who are having thoughts of suicide and self-harm. If a concern is identified, staff follow a six-point plan that helps them take the right action to get the customer the support they need. The Department also has a detailed mental health training package which includes modules on supporting customers at risk of suicide or self-harm.

Department for Work and Pensions

This revised response was given on 6 September 2022. The Government requested to update this revised response to rectify inaccuracies in the original response, to which the Petitions Committee agreed.

The revised response incorrectly identified ‘contributory based ESA’ as a qualifying benefit for the Disability Cost of Living Payment.

On 6 September 2022, the Department for Work and Pensions submitted and revised response to e-petition 617425, "Make people on disability benefits eligible for the £650 one off payment".

The Government’s revised response set out existing eligibility for various support payments, and said that there were no plans to change these.

The response incorrectly identified ‘contributory based ESA’ as a qualifying benefit for the Disability Cost of Living Payment.

Because its original response to e-petition 617425 was factually inaccurate, the Department for Work and Pensions have asked to replace this with a corrected response, which you can read on the e-petition's web page.

The Government's new response also contains details of the new ‘Energy Price Guarantee’, which was announced after the initial response to this petition was provided.

The Government announced on Thursday 17 November that people receiving non-means-tested disability benefits will receive a £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment in 2023-24. This includes everyone eligible for:

- Disability Living Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Scottish Disability Benefits
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance
- War Pension Mobility Supplement 

This payment will be tax-free and will not have any impact on existing benefit awards.

This payment is in addition to a £900 Cost of Living payment that the Government announced for households on means-tested benefits.

Read more about the Government's Cost of Living payments
Read the transcript of the Chancellor's statement, and debate by MPs

What is the Autumn Statement?

At the Autumn Statement, the Chancellor of the Exchequer updates MPs on the Government's taxation and spending plans, including any changes to taxes and spending policies.

The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) publishes revised forecasts for the economy and public finances alongside the Autumn Statement. The OBR was established in 2010 to provide independent and authoritative analysis of the UK's public finances.

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On Thursday 24 November, Marsha de Cordova MP will lead a debate in Parliament on the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

To inform the debate, she wants to hear about your experiences and ideas relating to the topic. She may quote your contribution directly in the House of Commons Chamber.

Find out more and share your thoughts with her by midday on Wednesday 23 November: UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Videos of the debate, the transcript of what was said in it, and other relevant material will be accessible shortly after the debate on this webpage.

What are backbench business debates?

Backbench business debates give backbenchers (MPs who aren’t ministers or shadow ministers) an opportunity to secure a debate on a topic of their choice, either in the main House of Commons Chamber or Westminster Hall, the second chamber of the House of Commons.

MPs can make a request for a debate to the Backbench Business Committee, which hears requests and decides which debates to schedule.

Backbench debates can either be general debates (which do not end in a vote) or be on a substantive motion (which calls for an action and can end in a vote). This debate will be a general debate.

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Next week the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee will hear from disabled people and carers on how they have been affected by the rising cost of living in the UK.

• Watch the session from 2.30pm on Wednesday 1 February

The people invited to speak to the Committee include Abigail Broomfield, the creator of the petition you signed.

Topics to be discussed at the session will include:

• the challenges disabled people and their carers are facing due to increased food and energy costs
• the effectiveness of Government support

A transcript of the session will be published on the Committee's website a few days after the session.

What is an evidence session?

An evidence session is a hearing where key stakeholders, such as Ministers or campaigners, answer questions on a particular topic. They help MPs on a committee to gain a deeper understanding of a topic.

What is the Women and Equalities Committee

The Women and Equalities Committee is a cross-party group of MPs who look into the work of the Government Equalities Office (GEO).

• Find out more about the committee
• Follow the committee on Twitter

The Women and Equalities Committee is a select committee. Find out how select committees work.

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The MPs on the Petitions Committee have scheduled a debate on this petition and another one about the cost of living and financial support for disabled people Provide an energy grant to people with a disability or serious medical condition

Marsha De Cordova MP, a member of the Petitions Committee, has been asked to open the debate, which will take place on Monday 22 May.

Share your views

To inform the debate, we would like to hear from you about your experiences of and views on the cost of living and financial support for disabled people.

You can share your views with us by completing this survey: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=nt3mHDeziEC-Xo277ASzSpMLsAawCSdBvMh9cdt5o9ZUMFVISExVTFY3TDVZTkRQQklBMjZNTTNFMi4u

The survey is also available in the following formats:

With British Sign Language: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=nt3mHDeziEC-Xo277ASzSpMLsAawCSdBvMh9cdt5o9ZUMUhGMEhHVVJLU0lVMjZSNlFMSUFCU0lSSy4u

Easy Read: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5803/cmselect/cmpetitions/easy_read/er-extra-money-for-disabled-people.pdf

The survey will close on 31 March.

A summary of responses will be published on the Parliament website. It will also be shared with MPs and may be referred to in the debate or within other parliamentary documents. Please don't share anything that may identify you.

Watch the debate

The debate will take place on Monday 22 May at 4.30pm.

• Watch the debate (from 4.30pm on Monday 22 May)
• Read a transcript of the debate (available a few hours after the debate happens)

A British Sign Language translation of the debate will also be made available on Parliament Live TV.

What are petition debates?

Petition debates are ‘general’ debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions, and put their concerns to Government Ministers.

Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means that MPs will not vote on financial support for disabled people at the end of the debate.

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A cross-party group of MPs called the Women and Equalities Committee, has heard from disabled people and representative organisations on the Government’s National Disability Strategy.

• Watch the first session with BSL translation
• Watch the first session without BSL translation
• Read the transcript of the first session in html

• Read the transcript of the first session in PDF

• Watch the second session with BSL translation

• Watch the second session without BSL translation

• Read the transcript of the second session in html

• Read the transcript of the second session in PDF

The Government’s Strategy was declared unlawful by the High Court last year due to failures in the consultation process. As a result of the ruling, 14 policies have been paused. The Government is appealing the ruling, with the hearing likely to take place this Spring-Summer.

The Committee examined the Government’s engagement with disabled people and heard views on the Health and Disability White Paper, published alongside the Spring Budget, priorities for the Disability Action Plan and compliance with international obligations.

The Committee also explored policy for non-visible disabilities and health conditions, including chronic illness, mental health problems and deafness

Further information

• Read a letter from the Government to the Committee about the High Court ruling that declared the Government's strategy unlawful
• Read what the Committee is investigating in its terms of reference
• Read what people and organisations have told the Committee in 'written evidence'
• Read House of Commons Library information about the National Disability Strategy

What is the Women and Equalities Committee

The Women and Equalities Committee is a cross-party group of MPs who look into the work of the Government Equalities Office (GEO).

• Find out more about the committee
• Follow the committee on Twitter

The Women and Equalities Committee is a select committee. Find out how select committees work.

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MPs debated this petition on Monday 22 May.

The debate was opened by Marsha De Cordova, a member of the Petitions Committee.

• Watch the debate
• Watch the debate with BSL translation
• Read a transcript

During the debate, Marsha talked about the results of the Petitions Committee survey. Thank you to everyone who completed it.

• Read a summary of the survey results

What are petitions debates?

Petitions debates are ‘general’ debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions and put their concerns to Government Ministers.

Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means that MPs will not vote on financial support for disabled people at the end of the debate.

The Petitions Committee can only schedule debates on petitions started on petition.parliament.uk

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Sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference.

MPs debated this petition on Monday 22 May.

The debate was opened by Marsha De Cordova, a member of the Petitions Committee.

Read a summary of what was said, watch the debate and access other relevant material:

Why are MPs debating the cost of living and financial support for disabled people?

What are petitions debates?

Petitions debates are ‘general’ debates which allow MPs from all parties to discuss the important issues raised by one or more petitions and put their concerns to Government Ministers.

Petition debates don’t end with a vote to implement the request of a petition. This means that MPs will not vote on financial support for disabled people at the end of the debate.

The Petitions Committee can only schedule debates on petitions started on petition.parliament.uk

Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament

Sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference.