The government’s planned overhaul of the welfare system threatens to affect many Personal Independence Payment (PIP) recipients, particularly those with less severe conditions. As Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall prepares to unveil the reforms, concerns over tightened eligibility are growing.
The proposed changes are part of broader efforts to reduce the mounting welfare bill while providing more support to those able to work. However, the focus on revising PIP eligibility is raising alarm within the disability community and among Labour MPs who argue that the reforms could unfairly impact vulnerable individuals.
Welfare Reforms Aim to Address Financial Pressures
The PIP has long been a critical benefit for people with disabilities, yet government plans suggest that eligibility criteria for the benefit will be restricted.
According to BBC News, in the wake of rising welfare spending, which is forecast to reach £100.7bn by 2029-30, the government is seeking ways to ensure that the social security system remains financially sustainable.
Kendall, who will outline the specifics of the reforms on Tuesday, has stated that the changes are designed to focus support where it is most needed, ensuring protection for the most vulnerable while incentivising those capable of work to seek employment.
While Kendall has promised to protect full benefits for individuals who are unable to work, the tightening of eligibility for those with less severe conditions is expected to leave some current claimants without support.
Opposition Within Labour and Growing Concerns
The reforms have sparked significant resistance within the Labour party. Labour peer Baroness Shami Chakrabarti has voiced strong objections, calling it “wrong in principle” to cut benefits from individuals suffering from disabilities and illnesses.
Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the potential for increased reassessments of claimants, especially for those with long-term conditions.
Kendall has attempted to reassure the public, stating that individuals with permanent or degenerative conditions will likely be exempt from further assessments, yet the prospect of more frequent checks for others remains a contentious issue.
Many claimants have expressed distress about the uncertainty surrounding their future benefits. One claimant, Alison from Southampton, shared her concerns, stating that the speculation about cuts has caused significant anxiety.
She added, “I think about it all the time. Being on benefits doesn’t make me feel happy.” emphasising that for many, the desire to work is overshadowed by the lack of opportunity due to health constraints.
