'Mr Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how the qualifying conditions for each passported benefit for which he is responsible will change under universal credit. [157425]
Poulter: For Help with Health Costs we have put arrangements in place for the passporting of universal credit recipients during the pathfinder phase, which started on 29 April 2013. All those in receipt of universal credit during the pathfinder phase will be entitled to Help with Health Costs, which includes free prescriptions (in England). As the target group for the Pathfinder phase excludes those with responsibility for children,
and pregnant women, there is likely to be little impact on Healthy Start during this phase. However, we have put processes in place to ensure that the scheme can provide discretionary support to universal credit recipients who may become pregnant or responsible for young children.
We are currently working across Government to agree approaches for the passporting of benefits following the full roll-out of universal credit which work smoothly while ensuring that these benefits are available to the families that need them most.'
from hansard 3 6 2013