A Labour review into welfare payments has recommended that sickness benefits should be made “as easy as possible” to claim, a move that has sparked anger from opposition parties.
The long-awaited study into support packages funded by taxpayers was conducted by welfare minister Sir Stephen Timms. His probe was announced last year after former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer failed to quash a backbench rebellion over plans to limit eligibility for the personal independence payment (PIP).
Rather than restricting access to PIP, which is forecast to cost the Treasury £40billion a year by 2030, the review is now suggesting the benefit should be easier to claim.
Draft recommendations published
A draft recommendation published on Thursday said the system should be overhauled to make it “as easy as possible” for claimants. It added that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) should take a “more respectful tone” towards applicants and that help should be given to those who “struggle to articulate the impact of their condition”.
According to the Daily Mail, PIP claims are approved at a rate of more than 1,000 a day, with almost four million people receiving the payment. The benefit is intended to help with everyday tasks and extra living costs for those with a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability.
There are concerns that the surge in claims has been fuelled by mental health problems arising from the Covid pandemic and by claims from migrants.
Political backlash
Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately MP told the Mail: “Labour's answer to the ballooning welfare bill is to make benefits even easier to claim. They are so out of touch, it beggars belief.
“Labour is simply too weak to cut welfare, and yesterday the Prime Minister admitted as much. Labour put social security before national security.”
During PMQs this week, Prime Minister Andy Burnham sparked disbelief when he told the Commons Labour would not fund defence “at the expense of social security”. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the UK was “addicted to welfare”, accusing the Prime Minister of having no plan to fund increased defence spending.
Conservative MP for Isle of Wight East Joe Robertson, who sits on the Commons health committee, described the Labour review as “woeful”.
Reform UK response
Reform UK's Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick accused Labour of abandoning “any attempts to tackle the ballooning benefits bill”.
The Newark MP said: “They do nothing to stop migrants claiming benefits and many of them will actually make it easier for those who don’t need it to claim PIP.
“Reform is clearly the only party with a detailed plan to restore fairness to the system so we can raise the tax-free personal allowance to £15,000.”
A DWP spokesman told GB News: “These are not the final recommendations. The Review, which will report to the Secretary of State this autumn, and he will carefully consider the final proposals within it.
“The Timms Review interim report, co-produced with disabled people, made clear that PIP is no longer fit for purpose.
“Our goal is to deliver a system that supports disabled people and those with long-term conditions to live independent lives, while remaining fair, sustainable, and fit for the future.”
