Labour warned ‘draconian' cuts to DWP benefits will penalise poorest

Reforms targeting Personal Independence Payments and Universal Credit benefits have been announced by Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall. Both will see eligibility criteria tightened and some schemes completely scrapped like the Work Capability Assessment.

But critics are unhappy and say there will be a serious impact on claimants. James Watson-O’Neill, Chief Executive at the national disability charity Sense, called the changes “draconian”. He claimed the cuts could push disabled households over the tipping point and into poverty.

James said that Labour may be confused over the actual point of PIP, the leading adult disability benefit. James fumed: “Personal Independence Payment (PIP) was never designed to help people find work.

“Trying to frame cuts to benefits as a solution to incentivise work is misplaced. Stripping away this support will not create more job opportunities for disabled people – it will simply leave them more vulnerable.”

In order to actually encourage disabled people into work, Sense recommended the government focus on removing barriers instead of benefits. James explained: “We need a nationwide rollout of assistive technology in job centres, and much more targeted training for work coaches to support disabled people’s unique needs.”

Scope’s executive director of strategy, James Taylor warned these cuts could “penalise some of the poorest people in our society”. He added: “Life costs more if you are disabled. Ripping £5bn out of the system by 2030 will be a catastrophe for disabled peoples’ living standards and independence.

“The government will be picking up the pieces in other parts of the system with pressure on an already overwhelmed NHS and social care, as more disabled people are pushed into poverty. We expect the consultation will see an overwhelming response. We urge the government to listen to disabled people and think again.”

Kendall squashed rumours that PIP would become means-tested or frozen but noted people trying to claim the daily living element of the benefit will face stricter eligibility criteria. Work Capability Assessments will also be scrapped by 2028 and she announced a consultation on delaying access to the health element of Universal Credit until claimants are 22.