Much of these changes will focus on reforming personal independence payments (PIP), which currently make up the largest proportion of the working-age benefits bill and are expected to cost the taxpayer £34bn by 2029-30.
The reforms are expected to cut benefits so that only the most severely disabled people will qualify, denying payments to many people with mental health conditions and to some of those who struggle to wash, dress themselves and eat depending on certain criteria.
It is being widely reported that the Government is considering cutting the cost of PIP to the Treasury by tightening the eligibility criteria regarding who can claim it.
There are 10 categories for the daily living component of PIP and two for the mobility component, with between zero and 12 points awarded for each depending on the difficulties faced by the claimant.
For the mobility component, claimants are assessed on their ability to move around unaided and undertake a journey.
Read Next
square ANNE MCELVOYRead More
Under present rules, claimants who score between eight and 11 points on either component get the standard rate, while those scoring over 12 get the enhanced rate.
Currently, the eight-point threshold can be reached by scoring two points on only four of the 10 categories for the daily living component.
However, the new threshold means that those who need help cooking a meal would qualify, but those who are able to use a microwave would not.
Reforming universal credit
The Government is planning to reform or replace the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), which could require many people with long-term conditions to seek work or risk losing their benefits.
Currently, a single person on universal credit who is deemed fit to work receives £311.68 or £393.45 a month, depending on their age. This depends on following rules like applying for jobs and interacting with Jobcentre support.
There have been reports that ministers are also expected to reduce the amount paid to the “limited capability for work-related activity” (LCWRA) group of universal credit claimants.
Plans to reform or scrap the WCA, meanwhile, are set to be delayed after the High Court ruled in January that the DWP’s consultation on tightening up the criteria was “unlawful” and “misleading”.
As a result, changes to the WCA are set to be announced separately from the Government’s upcoming Green Paper on benefits reforms.
Read Next
square BENEFITSLabour disability benefits cuts rebellion grows despite No 10 concessions
Read MoreThis new approach would prevent people receiving health-related benefits from having their entitlements automatically re-assessed if they enter employment.
The chance will likely see more benefit claimants with long-term conditions encouraged to try out a job if they are able, as a recent DWP survey found 200,000 people receiving health-related or disability benefits were ready to work if the right job or support was available.
Rachel Reeves was reportedly challenged during a Cabinet meeting last week over her approach to slashing welfare amid speculation that proceeding with the plans could lead to ministerial resignations.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( All the ways disability benefit rules could be tightened in DWP crackdown )
Also on site :