The Department for Work and Pensions has provided an update on proposed changes to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and other disability benefits. Last year, the then Conservative government introduced the “Modernising support for independent living: the health and disability Green Paper.”
This explored potential ways to redesign the welfare system to better support individuals with disabilities and long-term health conditions, reports Birmingham Live.
This includes potential reforms to the current PIP system, with Labour now pledging to overhaul the benefits system since taking power. Matt Bishop, Labour MP for Forest of Dean, questioned 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.”
Sir Stephen Timms responded: “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.”
Ministers are aiming to revamp the disability benefits system and have pledged to put the views of disabled people at the forefront of their proposals. In a statement, they said: “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.”
Some potential changes being considered include replacing cash payments with a voucher or grant system.
Action for ME expressed concerns about these proposals, stating: “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.”