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Employment and Support Allowance: Chronic Illnesses

Asked by Neil Duncan-JordanLabourDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled Answered 4 December 2025UIN 95515

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment the Government has made of the potential impact of the proposed changes to contributory ESA on recipients with long-term health conditions unable to return to work after the one-year limit.

Answered by Sir Stephen Timms

In the Pathways to Work Green Paper we announced that we would be establishing a new, simple and clear Unemployment Insurance benefit through the reform of contributory working age benefits. Following recent consultation, officials are considering the responses and developing the policy for this new benefit, including the duration of entitlement.

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