The Work and Pensions Secretary, Liz Kendall, has criticized the current benefits system as failing those it is intended to help, announcing plans to narrow eligibility for disability benefits to save £5 billion. Starting November 2026, qualifying for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) will become stricter, affecting those who score lower points on assessments. While the government claims these changes will overhaul the system to encourage work, advocates warn it will push more disabled citizens into poverty, intensifying financial and health challenges. Critics are skeptical about the effectiveness of these reforms and their potential impact on beneficiaries.
Kendall said the government will make the eligibility criteria for disability benefits narrow to cut £5 billion. This decisive action aims to fix the broken benefits system.
Charles Gillies, of the Disability Benefit Consortium, warned, 'These immoral and devastating benefits cuts will push more disabled people into poverty, and worsen people's health.'
Professor Len Shackleton stated, 'Today's announcement will upset disability campaigners and Labour's back-benchers, but will do nothing much to reform benefits or save significant amounts of money.'
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