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Employment and Support Allowance: Multiple Sclerosis

Asked by Chris LawScottish National PartyDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 24 February 2025UIN 31079

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an estimate of the number of people with Multiple Sclerosis who are in the Employment and Support Allowance (a) Support Group and (b) Work-Related Activity Group.

Answered by Sir Stephen Timms

In May 2024 there were around 19,500 people on ESA whose main condition was multiple sclerosis. Of these, around 300 were in the Work-Related Activity Group and around 18,000 were in the Support Group, with the remainder being in the Assessment Phase or receiving National Insurance credits only, and not assigned to a particular group.

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