The MP for Chichester has criticised the Work and Pensions Secretary after outlining changes to the benefits system.
Yesterday's announcement included the merger of employment benefits and the scrapping of capability assessments.
The government's plans aim to reduce the benefits bill by £5B by 2030.
Outlining the changes in the Commons, the Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the criteria for the main disability benefit - or PIP - would be tightened and that people would have the right to try going back to work without putting their benefits at risk.
The Liberal Democrat's Jess Brown-Fuller says the changes to Personal Independence Payments could be devastating; she said: "The main concern is coming from those who are actually in work and having that personal independence allowance is what keeps them in work."
The government also want to change the scoring surrounding PIP, Jess went on to say, "They might be unable to score this arbitrary number that the government is placing on them of being able to hit a 4 in one particular category, but they are scoring one, two or three across multiple categories that actually paints a picture that shows that they desperately need the support".
Here are the possible changes announced by the government yesterday:
- Increase the standard allowance for Universal Credit recipients by £775 for the fiscal year 2029/30.
- Combine Jobseeker's Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance into a single benefit.
- Maintain Personal Independence Payments without freezing them, eligibility criteria will be tightened.
- Launch a "Right to Try" initiative, ensuring that individuals attempting to return to work can do so without the risk of losing their benefits.
- Eliminate the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) for Universal Credit recipients starting in 2028.
The possible changes to the welfare system have been met with significant disapproval across the political spectrum. However, there is a silver lining for those who rely heavily on these benefits for survival and independence. Before these changes can take effect, they must be legally approved. This process involves two steps: first, a vote by MPs, followed by endorsement from the House of Lords. This process can be lengthy, with potential modifications as the legislation is debated between both houses. Therefore, the initial proposals announced yesterday may be diluted and altered by the time they are implemented, and there is a chance they won't be implemented at all.
Listen to my report on changes to the welfare system here:
If you have been affected by the news of benefit cuts, the Samaritans are always here to chat through your feelings on 116 123, all for free. Find out more www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/
Updated: 19/03/2025 12:34
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