The Welfare Secretary, Liz Kendall has revealed drastic cuts to the UK’s benefit system, leaving the sick and disabled on the benefits in a difficult situation.
Fixing the Broken System with Benefit Cuts
The government has argued that these new measures will “fix the broken benefits system” allowing the nation’s books to balance by saving £5 billion by cutting it from the benefits bill. It has also been announced that the Work and Pensions department would spend up to £1 Billion a year extra on helping people get back into work; plans include intensive training programmes and even supportive calls.
Concerns Over Benefit Cuts
Only the most severely disabled will be able to claim personal independent payments (PIP) under these cuts, a concern some Labour MP’s have voiced. The criteria will be much stricter meaning people will need to score four points in at least one activity for the daily living allowance which will impact around 1 million claimants but save billions for the government.
Plans will also be set out to consult on the frequent reassessment of PIP claimants with the most severly disabled expected to not require a reassessment. The workplace capability assessment will be scrapped by 2028.
Universal Credit
The basic rate for UC for those looking for work, or currently in a job, will rise from April 2026, but the benefit will face cuts for new claimers deemed unfit for work. Those already claiming will keep the same level of support, with additional support for those with a severe lifelong condtion that prevents them from ever working.
There will be a new right-to-work scheme for people on incapatcaity benefits so they can attempt a return to work without the risk of losing any entitlements.
Why Are The Cuts Happening?
[the system was] failing the very people it is supposed to help and holding our country back.”
Liz Kendall, Welfare Secretary
One in 10 working-age people currently claim sickness or disability benefits, and around one million young people are not in education, employment, or training. The spending on sickness and disability benefits has risen £20 billion since the Covid-19 pandemic, with a further rise of £18 billion by the end of Labour’s parliament.
Kendall added:
There will always be people who can never work because of the severity of their disability or illness. Under this government, the social security system will always be there for people in genuine need. That is a principle we will never compromise on.
But disabled people and people with health conditions who can work should have the same rights, choices and chances to work as everybody else.”
Information Sourced from: The Guardian
