Welfare proposals
I wanted to post something about yesterday’s welfare proposals.
There’s been time now to read the detailed proposals and (for me) to speak to Ministers. A number of people have been in touch to ask for my reaction, and what work I am doing on this issue as your MP.
First, it’s clear that much of the press reports before yesterday were wrong. I am critical of parts of the plans, but some of the coverage this morning was also, I think, misleading. If you have the time, then I’d encourage you to read the ‘green paper’ (called ‘Pathways to Work’) which contains more details. The link is at the end of this post.
Starting with the positives, there were some good and overdue announcements that need to be welcomed.
Exempting people who cannot work from PIP reassessment will save a lot of people constant, and needless, worry. I know this from people who are close to me who – with the best will in the world – cannot work, but who had to go through continual reassessment.
The money that is going into proper welfare-to-work support is not a sticking plaster – this is serious investment. Scrapping the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) is another measure that disability organisations have called for over many years.
Replacing PIP cash payments with vouchers has also been ruled out. This is the right call and something I have raised with Ministers since I was elected. The idea that the DWP should be trying to micromanage disabled people’s money was always wrong, and patronising.
I have serious concerns over other parts of the proposals.
Specifically, the new PIP criteria means that points would no longer be added up over the different categories. Instead, people will need to score 4 points in a single category to qualify. To give an example, at the moment, someone who cannot cook on a hob, but who can use a microwave, scores under 4 points.
To me, this is not a fair test of whether someone needs disability support. A review of the PIP assessment has been announced, which I hope will lead to new, and fairer, criteria. I have made this case to Ministers and I will continue to do so.
Second, I don’t agree with the proposed restriction of Universal Credit from people aged under 22, and Disability Living Allowance from people aged 16 and 17.
The Government has said that ‘severely’ disabled young people should continue to be eligible. But the biggest factor for many disabled young people is whether they can live in the family home – sometimes, this just isn’t possible due to relationship breakdowns, or lack of space, or other reasons.
The aim of reforming social security for modern times is the right one. Anyone who has been on disability benefits, or out of work benefits, knows that it is failing too many people.
And – to be frank – governments in the past have been happy to look the other way when the social security bill kept the unemployment statistics down, including in Birmingham.
We need to get this right. There is still time to make changes and make these proposals fairer.
I want to see more done to make reasonable adjustments the standard at work (so more disabled people stay in work and progress to better-paid roles).
We also need to address the problem of special school leavers who suddenly find that there isn’t support for the transition to adulthood, which is when many parents drop out of work.
Two other pieces of information that may be useful:
This is a consultation. The plans are not yet set in stone. The consultation can be found here and it is open until the end of June. I’d encourage anyone interested to respond (you don’t have to answer every question): https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/pathways-to-work-reforming-benefits-and-support-to-get-britain-working-green-paper
Second, even if carried through as they stand, the proposed changes would start to come into force in November 2026, so no-one faces an immediate change in income.
This is an ongoing process. It is also a hugely important issue. I’d welcome your thoughts.
Image credit - Wikimedia Commons.
