Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall launched a community-led pilot in Barnsley to help people back into work. She said many on sickness and disability benefits want to work but need the right support. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has announced radical welfare changes to get more people into work and save £5 billion by the end of 2030. The changes include tightening the eligibility criteria for disability benefits, scrapping a controversial benefits assessment, and raising the basic rate of universal credit while cutting the higher rate for those too ill to work. Report by Jonesia. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The Conservatives have branded the Government’s welfare reforms as too little, too late, with Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall being urged to be tougher. Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately told the Commons: "The fact is £5 billion just doesn’t cut it. With a bill so big, going up so fast, she needed to be tougher." Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
An overhaul of the welfare system will see the assessment process for some health benefits scrapped and reform to disability benefits in a plan expected to save billions over the next five years. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the work capability assessment is unfit for purpose and will be scrapped in 2028. Reforms to disability benefits are expected to save more than £5 billion in 2029/30, Liz Kendall has said. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has criticised government plans to tighten eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) from November 2026, warning they could push vulnerable people into poverty. Speaking about his own experiences as a carer, he expressed concern that many disabled people and their carers could lose vital support, saying, "It’s the sort of thing that will keep people up at night." Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
The housing minister has defended the government's decision to introduce cuts to the benefit system. The government plans include a £5bn in cuts, making it harder to qualify for the disability benefit Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Matthew Pennycook said the current welfare system is "failing the people who need support the most" and "failing the taxpayer and employers as well". Report by Kennedyl. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Disabilities minister, Stephen Timms, has said that changes to PIP eligibility are needed to make the benefit "sustainable for the long term". He said that he is satisfied that Labour has done enough..