Latest news with #Pensions
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
DWP disability cuts branded 'catastrophic' as Liz Kendall unveils major changes
Charities urged MPs to reject changes to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit, which the Government's own assessment said risked pushing people into poverty The Government has been accused of turning its back on sick and disabled people after pressing ahead with "catastrophic" benefit cuts. Charities urged MPs to reject changes to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit (UC), which the Government's own assessment said risked pushing an extra 250,000 people, including 50,000 children, into poverty. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall argued she was taking "the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity" as she sought to soften the impact by introducing a 13-week transition period so existing claimants avoid a cliff edge. But campaigners said the last-minute changes to the plans would do little to mitigate the devastating impact. Around 3.2 million families could be hit by the overall reforms by 2030, with an average loss of £1,720 per year, according to the Government's analysis in March. The document said estimates did not include the impact of the £1 billion employment support package "which we expect to mitigate the poverty impact". Around 800,000 people are expected to be impacted by PIP changes, including 370,000 current claimants and 430,000 future recipients, with an average loss of £4,500 per year. READ MORE: 'Spend a day in our life, PM' says mum whose disabled daughter may lose PIP benefits The tightening of eligibility will mean those who can't wash half of their body or cook a meal unaided no longer qualify for the daily living element - unless they have another condition. The UC health element, which is claimed by more than two million people, will be frozen at £97 a week for existing claimants until 2029/30, and reduced to £50 a week for new claimants from 2026/27. Ms Kendall has previously said people under 22 will no longer be able to access the health top up of UC - and instead will be offered a 'youth guarantee' of training or work, with threats of benefit cuts if they reject the offer. The 13-week grace period will apply to existing claimants who lose the PIP daily living component, including those who lose eligibility to Carers Allowance and the carer's element of Universal Credit. More than 200,000 people with the most severe, lifelong conditions to be protected from future reassessment for UC. Food bank network Trussell said: "The reality of this Bill is still record cuts in support for disabled people, and the biggest cuts to social security since 2015." Mencap, the learning disability charity, accused the Government of having "confirmed the choice to turn its back on thousands of disabled people". Carers UK said at least 150,000 people will lose their Carer's Allowance, while nearly 100,000 carers who receive both PIP and Carer's Allowance will lose their disability benefit. Keir Starmer is braced for the biggest revolt of his premiership of the legislation, with dozens of Labour MPs poised to rebel when it faces its first Commons test in the coming weeks. Labour MP Steve Witherden, who represents Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr, told the Mirror: "I find the proposals deeply concerning, particularly at a time when poverty levels across the UK are already alarmingly high. "Millions of children live in households where parents are struggling to afford basic necessities such as food, heating, or even sterilising baby bottles. "This Bill risks exacerbating these difficulties, with cuts that could push disabled households into even deeper hardship - especially in Wales, which currently has the highest poverty rates among disabled people in the UK. I will be voting against this Bill.' Ms Kendall said the system was broken - and would fail to deliver for those who need it most without reform. "Our social security system is at a crossroads," she said. "Unless we reform it, more people will be denied opportunities, and it may not be there for those who need it. "This legislation represents a new social contract and marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity. "This will give people peace of mind, while also fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot - putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change." Ministers say the plans - designed to slash £5billion from the welfare bill by 2030 - are designed to drive down spiralling costs and help more people back into work. One in 10 people of working age now claiming a sickness or disability benefit and some one million young people are not in education, employment or training - around one in eight. The number of people claiming PIP is expected to double from 2 million to 4 million over this decade, sending the bill for working-age sickness and disability benefit to £70billion a year by the end of this Parliament. A record 3.74 million people in England and Wales were claiming PIP in April. Helen Barnard, Director of policy at Trussell, said: 'This bill will push nearly half a million more people into severe hardship and towards the doors of food banks." She added: 'The last minute details on protections offer something for a small proportion of people, but even they will still see a real-terms cut." Mencap's Jackie O'Sullivan said: 'Today the Government confirmed the choice to turn its back on thousands of disabled people and by pushing ahead with these welfare reforms, they are causing a huge amount of anxiety. 'Mencap's recent survey of people with a learning disability found an alarming 70% would need to cut down on food if they lose PIP, while over half (60%) said they would need to cut back on heating and nearly half (45%) were worried they would be unable to leave their home." Charlotte Gill, Head of Campaigns and Public Affairs at the MS Society, said: "The government claims this Bill is about protecting people, but in reality it will take thousands of pounds a year from disabled people, including many living with MS – pushing more into poverty and worsening people's health. 'PIP is a lifeline not a luxury. If these cuts go ahead, many will be forced to reduce spending on essentials like food and heating. And some have told us they would have to leave work." James Taylor, Director of Strategy at disability equality charity Scope said: 'This bill will be catastrophic for disabled benefits will plunge hundreds of thousands into poverty." Louise Murphy, senior economist at the Resolution Foundation, said the longer period of protection for those affected by Pip cuts would ease the blow but said extra funding for employment support wasn't coming into effect until 2029. She added: "While ministers have softened the stick of welfare cuts, they have not strengthened the carrot of greater employment support."
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
DWP confirms 'non-negotiable' changes to benefit payments will go ahead
The DWP will add "non-negotiable" protections to its Welfare Reform Bill, amid a backlash against planned cuts to benefits. The planned revisions involve tighter eligibility for PIP Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is set to introduce "non-negotiable" safeguards into the Welfare Reform Bill as a response to backlash over proposed benefit cuts. The aim of the amendments is to cut the number of working-age individuals receiving sickness benefits, with the UK Government aspiring to save £5 billion annually by the 2020s. The planned revisions involve tighter eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and a reduction in the sickness-related portion of Universal Credit. Following calls from multiple Labour MPs last month for the Prime Minister to halt and reassess the impending Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) cuts, described as "impossible to support" additional measures are now being taken. In an interview with the Guardian, Ms Kendall confirmed the Bill due this week will contain added protections. Her statement read: "When we set out our reforms we promised to protect those most in need, particularly those who can never work." Reflecting on her extensive experience as an MP, she emphasised: "I know from my 15 years as a constituency MP how important this is. It is something I take seriously and will never compromise on. "That is why we are putting additional protections on the face of the Bill to support the most vulnerable and help people affected by the changes." She underlined the significance of these guarantees, asserting: "These protections will be written into law, a clear sign they are non-negotiable." A Government impact assessment released with recent reforms has raised alarms, suggesting that up to 250,000 individuals, including 50,000 children throughout England, Scotland, and Wales, could slide into relative poverty after housing costs due to the proposed changes. The DWP head has faced backlash but reaffirmed earlier this week her determination to pursue planned welfare cuts, reports the Daily Record. Faced with an appeal from MPs on the Work and Pensions Committee to place a hold on the changes, Ms Kendall said:"we will not avoid or delay the decisive action needed to transform the system". The bipartisan committee had implored for a halt and a comprehensive impact analysis before moving forward with the welfare reform implementation. Despite the concerns, Ms Kendall stated there would be no postponement, citing the need for the bill to secure final approval from Parliament by November this year to enable changes to take effect from 2026. Currently, there are 3.7 million individuals in Great Britain receiving PIP benefits, but projections estimate this number to reach 4 million by the decade's end, prompting the UK Government to suggest a series of new policies aimed at ensuring the benefit can be maintained for future beneficiaries. Among discussed propositions for PIP reforms are: Ending reassessments for disabled people who will never be able to work and people with lifelong conditions to ensure they can live with dignity and security. Scrapping the Work Capability Assessment to end the process that drives people into dependency, delivering on the UK Government's manifesto commitment to reform or replace it. Providing improved employment support backed by £1 billion including new tailored support conversations for people on health and disability benefits to break down barriers and unlock work. Legislating to protect those on health and disability benefits from reassessment or losing their payments if they take a chance on work. With the future in mind, the UK Government has decided on a number of measures to enhance the sustainability of the welfare system and safeguard those who depend on it the most. These include: Reintroducing reassessments for people on incapacity benefits who have the capability to work to ensure they have the right support and are not written off. Targeting PIP for those with higher needs by changing the eligibility requirement to a minimum score of four on at least one of the daily living activities to receive the daily living element of the benefit, in addition to the existing eligibility criteria. Rebalancing payment levels in Universal Credit to improve the Standard Allowance. Consulting on delaying access to the health element of Universal Credit until someone is aged 22 and reinvesting savings into work support and training opportunities through the Youth Guarantee. The DWP has also initiated an online consultation to coincide with the release of the Green paper. The consultation can be completed by anyone and is open until June 30, 2025 - you can find full details on here. It's crucial to note that the proposed reforms announced by the DWP will not directly impact disability claimants in Scotland who are currently receiving devolved health-related benefits - unless the funding for the Scottish Government is affected by planned changes from Westminster.
Leader Live
5 days ago
- Business
- Leader Live
Starmer insists Government's welfare reforms must be pushed through
The Prime Minister said 'everybody agrees' the social security system is not working and needs to change, when asked if there would be more measures to see off a Labour rebellion. The Government has sought to soften the impact of its plans, which it hopes will save £5 billion a year by 2030, in a bid to reassure MPs concerned about the impact of the cuts. The proposals include tightening eligibility for personal independence payments. Up to 1.3 million people across England and Wales could lose at least some support under the changes, the Government has suggested. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall earlier this week promised 'non-negotiable' protections for the most vulnerable benefits recipients would be included in the welfare bill in a bid to quell backbench unease, the Guardian reported. Asked whether there would be further concessions, the Prime Minister told reporters travelling with him to the G7 in Canada: 'Well we have got to get the reforms through and I have been clear about that from start to finish. 'The system is not working, it's not working for those that need support, it's not working for taxpayers. 'Everybody agrees it needs reform, we have got to reform it and that is what we intend to do.' The welfare reform bill is due to be published next week.
North Wales Chronicle
5 days ago
- Business
- North Wales Chronicle
Starmer insists Government's welfare reforms must be pushed through
The Prime Minister said 'everybody agrees' the social security system is not working and needs to change, when asked if there would be more measures to see off a Labour rebellion. The Government has sought to soften the impact of its plans, which it hopes will save £5 billion a year by 2030, in a bid to reassure MPs concerned about the impact of the cuts. The proposals include tightening eligibility for personal independence payments. Up to 1.3 million people across England and Wales could lose at least some support under the changes, the Government has suggested. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall earlier this week promised 'non-negotiable' protections for the most vulnerable benefits recipients would be included in the welfare bill in a bid to quell backbench unease, the Guardian reported. Asked whether there would be further concessions, the Prime Minister told reporters travelling with him to the G7 in Canada: 'Well we have got to get the reforms through and I have been clear about that from start to finish. 'The system is not working, it's not working for those that need support, it's not working for taxpayers. 'Everybody agrees it needs reform, we have got to reform it and that is what we intend to do.' The welfare reform bill is due to be published next week.
South Wales Guardian
5 days ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
Starmer insists Government's welfare reforms must be pushed through
The Prime Minister said 'everybody agrees' the social security system is not working and needs to change, when asked if there would be more measures to see off a Labour rebellion. The Government has sought to soften the impact of its plans, which it hopes will save £5 billion a year by 2030, in a bid to reassure MPs concerned about the impact of the cuts. The proposals include tightening eligibility for personal independence payments. Up to 1.3 million people across England and Wales could lose at least some support under the changes, the Government has suggested. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall earlier this week promised 'non-negotiable' protections for the most vulnerable benefits recipients would be included in the welfare bill in a bid to quell backbench unease, the Guardian reported. Asked whether there would be further concessions, the Prime Minister told reporters travelling with him to the G7 in Canada: 'Well we have got to get the reforms through and I have been clear about that from start to finish. 'The system is not working, it's not working for those that need support, it's not working for taxpayers. 'Everybody agrees it needs reform, we have got to reform it and that is what we intend to do.' The welfare reform bill is due to be published next week.
