Mar 19, 2025 06:43 PM
(This post was last modified: Mar 19, 2025 08:14 PM by C C.)
ALSO (The Independent): What are the key benefit changes in Labour’s welfare overhaul? From PIP to Universal Credit
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Cuts, universal credit & PIP: Everything you need to know about Labour’s benefits overhaul
https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-jus...it-reform/
INTRO: The Big Issue explains what is in the government's plans for welfare reform, and what exactly the changes to disability benefits mean for claimants Labour has announced its plans to slash the welfare bill and push more people claiming disability benefits into work.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) green paper on welfare sets out reforms which have been criticised as the “biggest cuts to disability benefits on record”. They include £5bn of cuts which will see the eligibility criteria for personal independence payment (PIP) tightened, and the health element of universal credit reduced for new claimants.
Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, said in parliament “millions who could work are trapped on benefits – denied the income, hope, dignity and respect that we know good work brings”. A record 2.8 million people are out of work due to long-term illness, and spending on disability and incapacity benefits for working-age people is up by £19bn in real terms since 2019-2020.
Government ministers claim that the numbers of people out of work due to sickness is “indefensible and unfair”, but they have been met with criticism from Labour MPs and charities, who have repeatedly warned that benefit cuts would be “catastrophic”.
They have argued that disabled and ill people will be pushed into poverty by the cuts, putting greater pressure on public services including the NHS and social care. Cuts will also likely lead to worsening mental and physical health, which could push people further away from the workplace.
Elements of the government’s plans have been broadly welcomed, including the promise of personalised and tailored employment support for people including those with severe health conditions. But experts have said they fear that the cuts will erode trust in the DWP and mean that people are less likely to engage with employment support.
Here, we outline what changes to disability benefits have been announced and what they could mean for claimants... (MORE - details)
COVERED:
Eligibility criteria for PIP tightened
No reassessments for people with severe disabilities or illness
Work capability assessment scrapped, but Tory changes not taken forward
Universal credit to rise for people actively looking for work – but there will be cuts for the health element
People will have a ‘right to try’ work without risk of losing benefits
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Cuts, universal credit & PIP: Everything you need to know about Labour’s benefits overhaul
https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-jus...it-reform/
INTRO: The Big Issue explains what is in the government's plans for welfare reform, and what exactly the changes to disability benefits mean for claimants Labour has announced its plans to slash the welfare bill and push more people claiming disability benefits into work.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) green paper on welfare sets out reforms which have been criticised as the “biggest cuts to disability benefits on record”. They include £5bn of cuts which will see the eligibility criteria for personal independence payment (PIP) tightened, and the health element of universal credit reduced for new claimants.
Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, said in parliament “millions who could work are trapped on benefits – denied the income, hope, dignity and respect that we know good work brings”. A record 2.8 million people are out of work due to long-term illness, and spending on disability and incapacity benefits for working-age people is up by £19bn in real terms since 2019-2020.
Government ministers claim that the numbers of people out of work due to sickness is “indefensible and unfair”, but they have been met with criticism from Labour MPs and charities, who have repeatedly warned that benefit cuts would be “catastrophic”.
They have argued that disabled and ill people will be pushed into poverty by the cuts, putting greater pressure on public services including the NHS and social care. Cuts will also likely lead to worsening mental and physical health, which could push people further away from the workplace.
Elements of the government’s plans have been broadly welcomed, including the promise of personalised and tailored employment support for people including those with severe health conditions. But experts have said they fear that the cuts will erode trust in the DWP and mean that people are less likely to engage with employment support.
Here, we outline what changes to disability benefits have been announced and what they could mean for claimants... (MORE - details)
COVERED:
Eligibility criteria for PIP tightened
No reassessments for people with severe disabilities or illness
Work capability assessment scrapped, but Tory changes not taken forward
Universal credit to rise for people actively looking for work – but there will be cuts for the health element
People will have a ‘right to try’ work without risk of losing benefits