A million to lose disability benefit as Labour slashes £5bn off welfare bill
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Anger over ‘immoral’ reforms as Labour slashes £5bn off welfare
- Labour plans to overhaul the UK's welfare system, aiming to save £5 billion by 2030. These changes will primarily affect Personal Independence Payments (PIP), impacting an estimated one million disabled people.
- Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall stated the reforms are necessary due to the unsustainable growth of disability and long-term sickness benefits, projected to reach £70 billion by 2030. A key change involves raising the threshold for PIP eligibility.
- While some measures, such as not freezing PIP levels and ending regular assessments, were welcomed, the proposed cuts sparked criticism from charities, unions, and some Labour MPs who labelled them "immoral" and expressed concern for the impact on vulnerable individuals.
- Kendall defended the reforms, emphasising the need to address the increasing number of PIP claimants.
- Labour leader Keir Starmer supported the move, stating the government's commitment to protecting the most severely disabled while also enabling those with the potential to work to live independent lives.