Welfare Reform Bill

We on these Benches support the amendments. As Leonard Cheshire points out in a very helpful briefing, it seems entirely unreasonable to suggest that sanctions may apply to individuals even when it is not known whether that individual will be in the group to whom sanctions could apply. The Disability Benefits Consortium is concerned at Government plans to take the work-focused health-related assessments immediately after the PCA has been concluded. These assessments perform different functions. The claimant will not know immediately after the PCA whether they will be placed on the support component or the work-related activity component, so it does not make sense to have a discussion about work-related health issues when it is not known if the person will be required to undertake work-related activity. Therefore, the work-focused health-related assessment should be carried out later. The noble Lord, Lord Skelmersdale, has argued his case very effectively, and we are happy to support him.