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Labour to Announce Disability Benefit Reforms Amid Internal Dissent

The government plans to tighten PIP eligibility and introduce a 'right to try' scheme, facing criticism over potential harm to vulnerable populations.

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Diane Abbott urged ministers to impose a wealth tax instead of cutting benefits
A Cabinet meeting in 2024 (Photo: Chris Eades/The Sun/PA)

Overview

  • Labour will unveil welfare reforms on March 18, including stricter Personal Independence Payment (PIP) eligibility criteria, potentially affecting up to one million people.
  • The proposed changes aim to save £5 billion and address the rising benefits bill, projected to reach £67 billion by 2029-30.
  • A 'right to try' scheme is set to be introduced, allowing disabled individuals to attempt employment without immediately losing benefits.
  • Internal Labour divisions persist, with senior Cabinet members and backbench MPs expressing concerns about the reforms' impact on disabled individuals and low-income families.
  • Critics, including disability advocates, warn the reforms could deepen poverty, while the government pledges to protect the most severely disabled.