The UK government is exploring a major reform of Universal Credit, potentially abolishing the highest category of health-related benefits. This change could affect millions of people who receive financial support without an obligation to seek work. Ministers argue that the current system discourages employment and contributes to an unsustainable welfare bill.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has signalled an urgent need for reform, stating that too many people are left without support to re-enter employment. The government is expected to announce proposals within weeks, aiming to balance financial sustainability with improved pathways into work for those with long-term health conditions.
DWP: A System Under Scrutiny
Recent figures show that approximately three million people are receiving Universal Credit with no work requirements, according to government data. The number of individuals classified as unable to work due to long-term illness has risen 37% since the pandemic, leading to concerns about the economic impact of rising welfare costs.
Under the current framework, those deemed unable to work due to health conditions can receive an additional £5,000 per year while being exempt from seeking employment. Critics argue that this creates a disincentive to re-enter the workforce. According to Stephen Evans, chief executive of the Learning and Work Institute, “there are more claims, they are more likely to be successful, and barely anyone leaves these benefits.”
The government is particularly concerned about the low transition rate from benefits into employment. Evans noted that just 1% of people classified as long-term sick return to work within six months, compared with 33% of those actively seeking employment. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) sees these figures as evidence that the system needs to change in order to prevent people from becoming permanently dependent on benefits.
Balancing Reform With Support for Disabled People
While ministers advocate reform to control rising costs and boost workforce participation, disability charities have raised concerns about the potential impact on vulnerable individuals. James Taylor, from the charity Scope, cautioned against cutting benefits or making the system more punitive, warning that such measures could push disabled people further into poverty rather than into jobs.
Taylor also highlighted that many disabled individuals want to work but face significant barriers, including a lack of tailored employment support and fear of losing benefits if their attempt to work is unsuccessful. He argued that rather than removing financial support, the government should focus on creating better job opportunities and ensuring workplace accessibility.
Meanwhile, Sir Stephen Timms, the disability minister, has emphasised the financial burden on taxpayers, warning that the welfare bill is projected to rise by almost £20 billion. He described the current system as “a failure we cannot afford to ignore”, reinforcing the government’s commitment to overhauling Universal Credit.
Maybe look at pip before doing anything to universal credit most if all are on UC cut their benefits most dont need like what was said post covid re valudate all their claims
Any of these changes the DWP are trying to bring in will, put simply, kill people. Every court in the land will block these changes because of this. PIP abolishment, LWRCA abolishment and so on just will not be allowed – EVER!!!
Understand this: the Nazi’s did similar. There way was just quicker…
Nasty Tory party B there telling more lies so that they can find there big fat pay rise to 95,000 a year mps also there doing this not out of interest or concern for disabled but just so they can fund making more pointless weapons for more pointless wars across globe like Ukraine Russia and big businesses are telling robot fake starner and Rachel Tory robot Reeves they are wanting the money for wars and also to make more disabled live in Victorian poverty levels and be bullied discriminated against further long-term as they want them on job seekers level when they have psychosis and many other mental health conditions to work for greedy corporate companies so they can be bullied and pushed about by them and dwp and yet many very healthy young people can’t get jobs as jobs are going daily no one as usual is doing anything about anything so can see those being a great success what makes me lol in sadness and anger is how so many allow all this to happen one thing after another UK public accept it all majority live already in poverty and the assement process is always horrendous for benefits so this is more garbage lies and many will take there life’s with psychosisi and skizophrenia and much more unbelievable one nasty thing after another it’s a total embarrassment this country shame on new robot starner and Rachel Tory Reeves his new girlfriend on side and all public in UK who accept it all one thing after another this country is finished no community no care now there taking 5000 of those who are with mental health conditions to force them into jobs that are not even there what could possibly go wrong lol 😂
I might as well just hang myself right now. Despite sending multiple proof from Doctors about my situation, now their gonna force me to work despite being told not to stress out my heart as I’m close to a heart attack as it is.
As a carer for my wife who is on high level PIP, I fully understand the need for this payment, she will never be able to go to work, she struggles to walk any distance, need regular breaks when going anywhere, can’t lift, the list goes on, hence I’m on UC, as I can’t work because she depends on me being present for the majority of the basic things, how is cutting this going to get me or her in to work? Its just going to mean a bigger struggle to survive. Food, heating, life etc. We’ve both worked 40 + years paying into the system. I understand the payment for this is increasing and revenue is decreasing, but perhaps we need to give less away, so we borrow less, and look after the people who have paid for the system first, before looking after anyone else? Just a thought, as unpopular as it may be, look after our own first, if they can’t do what they were elected to, get out.