Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a series of changes to the benefits system that could see millions of claimants losing their payments or having them reduced. The changes, which were announced in a speech at the Centre for Social Justice, include major reforms to Personal Independence Payments (PIP), new powers for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to impose fines, and an attack on what Sunak called “sick note culture.”
One of the key focuses of Sunak’s speech was the massive rise in government spending on PIP, which are given to people with a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability. Sunak decried the large increase in people being signed off work with mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety, who are then becoming reliant on PIP and other benefits to make ends meet.
The prime minister signalled that changes could be made to eligibility criteria and evidence requirements for the benefit. In the speech, he said people with mental health conditions could see payments fall. He said: “For all the challenges they face it is not clear they have the same degree of increased living costs as those with physical conditions.
“And we’ll also consider whether some people with mental health conditions should get PIP in the same way through cash transfers or whether they’d be better supported to lead happier, healthier and more independent lives through access to treatment like talking therapies or respite care.”
PIP for people with physical conditions could also be reduced, with more of a focus on purchasing essential equipment. Sunak said: “Often they’re already available at low cost, or free from the NHS or Local Authorities. And they’re one-off costs so it probably isn’t right that we’re paying an ongoing amount every year.”
The government also wants to see more medical evidence to support a PIP claim and “a more objective and rigorous approach that focuses support on those with the greatest needs and extra costs” with a limit on “the type and severity of mental health conditions that should be eligible for PIP.”
Around 250,000 at risk of benefits stopping ‘entirely’
One of the key groups targetted by the Prime Minister’s benefits crackdown are those who have been out of work for more than 12 months, despite being declared fit to work. Sunak said these people could have their benefits “removed entirely.” Claimants could be forced to accept any available job or face losing their financial support from the DWP.
GPs might no longer issue sick notes
As part of the package of measures to tackle the high number of people out of work, Sunak revealed plans to remove the responsibility for deciding someone’s fitness to work from GPs to other “health professionals”. This could mean pharmacists, or other as of yet unspecified healthcare workers, issuing sick notes. Under the PM’s plans, these assessments would be conducted alongside a work coach who would find ways to assist people with ill health or disability back into work – potentially pushing large swathes of claimants back into work.
DWP to get new powers to arrest and fine
A monumental change to the way the DWP functions was also announced at the Centre for Social Justice, with new powers to fine and arrest claimants. The Fraud Bill, which will be debated after the General Election, will allow the DWP to function like HMRC in going after fraudsters.
Work Capability Assessments will get tougher
Sunak said that the number of work capability assessments (WCA) finding people unfit to work has increased from 20 per cent of assessments in 2011, to 65 per cent just 13 years later. He said: “That’s wrong. People are not three times sicker than they were a decade ago.” Though the new criteria for a WCA have not been revealed or announced by the government, Sunak was clear that he wanted fewer sick or disabled people qualifying for disability benefits.
