UK Government Announces £5 Billion Disability Benefits Overhaul

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall outlines reforms tightening eligibility and increasing reassessments to address rising welfare costs.

Reforms aim to save £5-6 billion by 2030, focusing on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit adjustments.
Eligibility criteria for PIP will be tightened, potentially impacting up to one million claimants, with stricter thresholds for daily living activities.
The Work Capability Assessment will be abolished by 2028, with financial support linked to health conditions rather than work capacity.
The government pledges to protect the most severely disabled from reassessments while introducing a 'right to try' scheme encouraging employment for benefit claimants.
Labour MPs and advocacy groups criticize the changes, warning of increased poverty and harm to disabled individuals, as welfare spending is projected to rise sharply by 2030.