Andy Burnham is set to make a major benefits announcement after a flagship support scheme was branded "not fit for purpose". The Prime Minister is preparing to step into the benefits row as anger grows over Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments.
It comes after disability campaigners slammed the current setup for leaving vulnerable Brits feeling "degraded" and trapped in a "soul destroying" system.
Minister refuses to rule out cuts
Work and Pensions Minister Sir Stephen Timms is preparing a review on the benefit which is due to be published in November which is likely to spark an intervention from Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The fate of the popular benefit is unclear but Sir Timms has refused to rule out future budget cuts or tightened eligibility criteria for PIP claimants under Burnham's administration.
However, the minister offered a firm guarantee that disabled Brits will not be forced to swap cash benefits for vouchers or mobility equipment.
Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Sir Stephen told the Disability News Service (DNS) that any changes considered would be "completely voluntary".
Voluntary services and review panel
Addressing concerns that benefit checks could be replaced with physical goods, he said there "may be circumstances in which it will be better for people claiming PIP to request the funding goes into a service of some kind rather than them receiving the cash."
Giving the example of a disabled woman struggling to buy a rise and recline bed, he suggested the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) could step in to arrange bulk equipment orders for those who request it.
Pressed to confirm that no disabled person would be forced into taking services over cash, Sir Stephen said: "Correct. Correct."
But when pressed four times on whether PIP spending could face future cuts as Burnham looks to balance the nation's books, the minister repeatedly kicked the can down the road.
He said: "What I'm focusing on is the content of the review. What happens beyond that is a separate exercise; I'm not able to say one way or another what that might or might not entail."
He added: "I'm not going to speculate about what might happen in the future. What I'm saying is that my review is going to come up with recommendations, including around principles of eligibility."
Charity warns of 'dehumanising' experiences
The government's ongoing PIP review is being steered by 14 members, almost all of whom are disabled.
Aiming to reassure neurodivergent claimants and those suffering mental distress, Sir Stephen insisted the review panel is made up of "very committed people" who "have the interests of disabled people very much at heart."
The review panel's final recommendations will be delivered to Burnham's cabinet in late November, with Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden set to make the final call on reform.
Charities have warned that urgent overhaul is desperately needed across the UK. Charity Muscular Dystrophy UK warned that PIP is currently "not fit for purpose" and is failing millions.
A spokesperson said in July: "It's upsetting, but not surprising, to hear that some of the common words to describe people's experiences of claiming PIP were 'dehumanising', 'soul destroying' and 'degrading'."
The charity added: "To make these recommendations fair and fit for purpose, it's vital the review continues to focus on people's experiences of claiming PIP and real evidence, rather than being influenced by political pressure to reduce public spending."
