Rishi Sunak has rushed to defend his incapacity advantages crackdown, saying solely these with “real” claims must be eligible for assist.
After an enormous rise within the variety of adults reporting disabilities and claiming assist via private independence funds (PIP), the prime minister mentioned these with “much less extreme” situations must be engaged on the earth of labor.
The federal government Inexperienced Paper, printed on Monday, proposed a reform of scheme funds via modifications to eligibility standards and assessments, together with choices to require claimants to get scientific analysis and a change away from money funds.
The variety of month-to-month PIP awards for psychological well being issues has doubled since 2019, from 2,200 to five,300, in step with a rise in general awards via the profit scheme to 33,000 a month.
The annual price of the fee system is at the moment at round £22bn, and is forecast to rise by 50 per cent over the subsequent 4 years as extra individuals, together with these with psychological well being considerations, qualify for the assist.
However critics have accused the PM of utilizing psychological well being as a political tradition battle forward of Thursday’s native elections, that are set to see the Tories lose lots of of seats on native councils.
In an interview with ITV’s Robert Peston, Mr Sunak mentioned: “The broad thrust of what we’re making an attempt to do is say, hold on, you’ll be able to’t be making claims based mostly on unverifiable assertions. There must be some goal proof, maybe medical, in order that we are able to say you might be genuinely somebody who’s in want of assist.”
He added: “What we shouldn’t be doing is medicalizing the on a regular basis challenges and anxieties of life, and … if they’re much less extreme, they need to be anticipated to interact on the earth of labor.”
When pressed on the hardship that weak individuals on low incomes would endure with out PIP, he mentioned: “That’s why it’s so necessary that we persist with our plan that’s easing the burden on the price of dwelling”.
His feedback got here because the work and pensions minister Mel Stride printed the federal government’s Inexperienced Paper proposing to reform the funds via modifications to eligibility standards and assessments.
The plans, which can be consulted on over the approaching months, embody proposals to “transfer away from a hard and fast money profit system”, that means individuals with some situations will not obtain common funds however reasonably improved entry to therapy if their situation doesn’t contain further prices.
Vouchers for retailers is also given out as a substitute of money.
And advantages might be given to claimants based mostly on their particular person situation solely with proof of their scientific analysis from a healthcare skilled.
Alongside the paper, Mr Stride additionally addressed the Commons, saying: “This authorities’s precedence is to be sure that our welfare system is honest and compassionate. Honest on the taxpayer, by making certain that individuals of working age who can work, do work, and honest on those that are in most want of the state’s assist.”
He added that the session can be “exploring whether or not individuals with particular well being situations and disabilities might be taken out of PIP assessments altogether”.
“We’re additionally consulting on whether or not we must always make elementary modifications to the way in which we offer assist to disabled individuals and folks with a well being situation,” he mentioned.
“We all know that any further price arising from a incapacity or well being situation, which PIP is meant to assist with, can differ considerably and is exclusive to the person circumstances.”
He argued that modifications to the present “one-size suits all” system will supply “bespoke assist tailor-made to particular person wants”.
Appearing shadow work and pensions secretary Alison McGovern accused Mr Stride of speaking out of each side of his mouth.
She mentioned: “In latest weeks, the Secretary of State has determined to talk out of each side of his mouth. On the one hand he says ‘I’m grateful for right now’s extra open method to psychological well being’, and with the identical breath he tells us ‘there may be hazard that this has gone too far’.
“He needs it each methods, he thinks that openness about psychological well being is nice however then says the very factor that brings again the stigma. Each time (Mr Stride) speaks, he makes it much less seemingly that individuals can be open about their psychological well being.”
Ms Govern added: “He says some well being situations might be taken out of Pip assessments, which situations are we speaking about?”
Dr Sarah Hughes, chief govt of the charity Thoughts, mentioned the proposal would “solely make issues worse” for hundreds of thousands of individuals scuffling with psychological well being.
She mentioned: “Taking away essential monetary assist from individuals with psychological well being issues shouldn’t be going to repair something, it should make issues worse.
“We won’t enable the federal government to color individuals with psychological well being issues who usually are not effectively sufficient to work as someway taking the simple route.
“And we won’t enable individuals with psychological well being issues to hold the can for failures of the system. If the federal government is critical about supporting individuals with psychological well being issues again to work, it could prioritise funding in our overstretched psychological well being service.”
Are you anxious a few change in eligibilty standards and evaluation for PIP funds? E-mail tom.watling@unbiased.co.uk
