Our welfare state, after 14 years of Tory rule, fails not only taxpayers but, more importantly, those who need support the most.
We have the worst of all worlds – a system that sometimes discourages people from working and yet, those who really need a safety net are left without the dignity they deserve. Meanwhile, taxpayers fund an ever-spiralling bill.
One in eight young people are not earning or learning. One in ten working age people are out of work – the highest in Western Europe – and nearly three million are kept out of the workforce for health reasons. Doing nothing is not an option.
It would mean more people trapped in unemployment at a cost of £70bn every year by 2030. That’s why reforms were announced last week to support those who can work to do so while shielding those who cannot.
Those with the most severe disabilities and life-long health conditions will still be protected.
£1bn will be invested into more employment support. The Work Capability Assessment process that drives people into dependency will be scrapped.
A ‘Right to Try’ work will be introduced to protect those on health and disability benefits from losing payments if they take a chance on work and it doesn’t work out. Universal Credit will be rebalanced with the first ever above inflation increase to the Standard Allowance.
Reassessments for incapacity benefits will be reintroduced so recipients aren’t written off. Personal Independence Payments will be reformed so they are better targeted at those with higher needs.
These proposals will now be consulted upon and there will be no changes to benefit payments until all the responses have been received and assessed.
Please get in touch if you have any concerns so that I can ensure your voice is heard before any changes are finalised.