The consultation on plans to replace personal independence payment (PIP) with vouchers or a catalogue ends on 22 July, with Labour so far showing no signs of disowning the proposals. Benefits and Work is urging readers to have their say before it is too late.
As most readers will be aware, the Conservatives published a Green Paper on the future of PIP in April 2024. Amongst the proposals were suggestions that instead of regular cash payments, PIP could be replaced with:
- A catalogue/shop scheme
- A voucher scheme
- A receipt based system
- One-off grants
Labour failed to condemn these proposals in the run-up to the general election and have continued to remain silent since gaining power, even though there is now no risk of them losing votes by speaking out.
According to the Mirror:
“Labour insiders have hinted they'll review the public's response to these proposals after the consultation wraps up on July 22, which falls three weeks post-election.”
Labour have also said nothing about planned changes to the work capability assessment (WCA) from 2025, that would lead to an estimated 424,000 claimants losing over £400 a month.
Ten leading charities, including:
- Child Poverty Action Group
- Disability Rights UK
- Joseph Rowntree Foundation
- Mind
- Save the Children
have written to Liz Kendall, secretary of state for work and pensions. They have asked her to halt the proposed changes to the WCA and to PIP and replace them with plans that are “redesigned with disabled people at the centre.”
So far, there has been no response.
You can find out more about the changes to PIP and how to take part in the consultation here.
UPDATE 11 July
Liz Kendall made a speech in Leeds today in which she said that rising levels of economic inactivity are unacceptable and that immediate action must be taken. She highlighted the fact that a record 2.8 million people are out of work due to long-term sickness.
Kendall said that the government would: ".... create more good jobs, make work pay, transform skills, and overhaul jobcentres, alongside action to tackle the root causes of worklessness including poor physical and mental health."
Kendall made no reference to PIP or work capability assessment changes and did not address the issue of the speeded-up timetable for forced migration to universal credit.
