The Department for Work and Pensions has issued an update over proposed reforms for people on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and other disability benefits. Last year, the then Conservative Party government launched the “Modernising support for independent living: the health and disability Green Paper.”
Itr explored how the welfare system could be redesigned to best support people with disabilities and long-term health conditions. This includes options for the reform of the current PIP system, with Labour vowing to shake up the benefits system now it is in power.
Matt Bishop, Labour Party MP for Forest of Dean, reached out in the Commons “to ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps she is taking to ensure that planned reforms to the disability benefit system ensure security and support for seriously ill and disabled people.”
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Sir Stephen Timms replied: “This government believes there is a strong case to change the system of health and disability benefits across Great Britain so that it better enables people to enter and remain in work, and to respond to the complex and fluctuating nature of the health conditions many people live with today. The system must also work to reduce poverty for disabled people and those with health conditions and support disabled people to live independently.
“We want to engage with disabled people, and others with expertise and experience on these issues, to consider how to address these challenges and build a better system. We are working to develop proposals for reform and will set them out for consultation and engagement in a Green Paper in spring 2025. This government is committed to putting the views and voices of disabled people at the heart of all that we do, so we will consult on these proposals with disabled people and representative organisations.”
Among the mooted changes are the scrapping of cash payments for a voucher, grant or catalogue-based system. Action for ME previously stated: “We understand that these proposals will cause a significant level of concern for people with disabilities and we are working to ensure that the voices of people with ME are heard and represented throughout the consultation process.
“It is also important to note that any proposed legislation will need to be brought before Parliament and cannot be enacted quickly, meaning any legislative changes would need to be taken up by whichever Government forms after the next general election, who may have separate ideas regarding any reforms to welfare.”