Close Menu
WTX News
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Trending
    • Greggs increasing prices tomorrow due to higher employment costs
    • Rock & Roll It podcast Asia Cup 2025 review
    • Mbappé keeps climbing Champions League all-time goal-scoring list
    • A Strictly Come Dancing dark horse has upended the entire competition
    • Ringleader of Rochdale grooming gang jailed for 35 years
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube
    WTX News
    • Live News
      • US News
      • EU News
      • UK News
      • Politics
      • COVID-19
      • Business
      • Tech zone
    • World news
      • Middle East News
        • UAE News
        • Palestine News
      • Europe
        • Italian News
        • Spanish News
      • Africa news
      • South America
      • North America
      • Asia
    • News Briefings
      • UK News Briefing
      • World News Briefing
      • Live Business News
    • Sports
      • Football News
      • Tennis
      • Women’s Football
    • MY World
      • Climate Change
      • In Review
      • Expose
      • Special Reports
        • Conscience Convoy
        • Rohingya Report
    • Entertainment
      • Insta Talk
      • Royal Family
      • Gaming News
      • TV Shows
      • Streaming
    • Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • Fashion
      • Cooking recipes
      • Luxury
      • Money Saving Expert
    • Travel
      • Culture
      • Holidays
    • Sign Up
      • Log In
    WTX News
    • Live News
    • World news
    • News Briefings
    • Sports
    • MY World
    • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Sign Up
    Home - Business - DWP is warned against ‘rushing’ disability benefit assessment changes
    Business Updated:October 17, 2024

    DWP is warned against ‘rushing’ disability benefit assessment changes

    By David Pike3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Telegram WhatsApp
    DWP is warned against ‘rushing’ disability benefit assessment changes

    DWP is warned against ‘rushing’ disability benefit assessment changes

    The government has been warned against “rushing” planned changes to disability benefits assessments, as experts say they will leave nearly half a million vulnerable people worse off.

    The previous Conservative government announced in 2023 that the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) will be reformed, with the qualifying criteria being significantly overhauled. According to research from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), the changes will mean around 450,000 fewer people will be considered to have limited capability for work.

    Labour recommitted to the plans in its election manifesto, saying the WCA is “not working” and needs to be “reformed or replaced”.

    However, the government should not make these changes “in haste”, warned experts from living standards think-tank the Resolution Foundation in its ‘Cutbacks Ahead’ report.

    They said the reform will mean around 450,000 people whose health prevents them from working will see a benefit cut of up to £4,900 a year.

    The report authors say the issue is “similar in scale” to Labour’s controversial decision to cut back winter fuel payments for millions of pensioners from this year.

    “These changes should not be made in haste,” the Resolution Foundation said. “They will degrade living standards for low-income families, with 47 per cent of families who receive these incapacity benefits coming from the bottom 30 per cent of the income distribution.”

    Instead, the authors argued, the changes should be delayed or cancelled to allow “sufficient time” to ensure effective implementation.

    The think-tank – thought to be influential with ministers – also takes issue with the previous government’s logic that the changes would encourage more people into work, arguing “it is in reality a straightforward cost-saving measure”.

    Its research shows only around 3 per cent of those affected (around 15,400 people) would move into work, with the rest still unable to work while also nearly £5,000 worse off. It is forecast the measure will raise about £1.3bn a year for the Treasury by 2028/29.

    Labour’s DWP secretary Liz Kendall said she wants to tackle long-term sickness, with a record 2.8 million people out of work for this reason.

    In September, she met with a newly founded expert panel which will advise the government on how to meet its ambitious 80 per cent employment target, which is currently at 75 per cent.

    Ms Kendall said: “Spiralling inactivity is the greatest employment challenge for a generation, with a near record 2.8 million people out of work due to long-term sickness.

    “Addressing these challenges will take time, but we’re going to fix the foundations of the economy and tackle economic inactivity.”

    The minister acknowledged an improvement in healthcare is also needed to meet Labour’s ambition, as experts warn against stigmatising sickness and leaving vulnerable people without support.

    The Resolution Foundation report added the “real public policy failure here is the underlying deterioration in the nation’s health”, arguing the cost burden for supporting people with health conditions will just be placed onto other parts of local or central government if changes are not thought through.

    Over the next six years, public spending on working-age disability and incapacity benefits is forecast to grow from £43 billion in 2022/23 to £63 billion in 2028/29 – an increase of almost 50 per cent. The majority of this will be paid for disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP). This benefit is assessed through a different process to the WCA.

    The DWP has been approached for comment.

    https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/dwp-wca-assessment-changes-pip-disability-latest-b2630076.html

    Business news in the uk London news The Independent UK featured
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Telegram WhatsApp
    Previous ArticleFather left with fractured eye socket and toddler in hospital after random attack
    Next Article Teenager passed driving test just six months before crash in Snowdonia which killed four friends
    David Pike

    David Pike is an experienced news journalist with over 20 years experience as a UK News editor for WTX News and other news publications.

    Related Posts

    Greggs increasing prices tomorrow due to higher employment costs
    UK News

    Greggs increasing prices tomorrow due to higher employment costs

    Ringleader of Rochdale grooming gang jailed for 35 years
    Manchester news

    Ringleader of Rochdale grooming gang jailed for 35 years

    Gaza latest: Israel ‘harasses’ Greta Thunberg aid flotilla – as video shows ‘warship’ circling
    UK News

    Gaza latest: Israel ‘harasses’ Greta Thunberg aid flotilla – as video shows ‘warship’ circling

    All GP surgeries in England must offer online booking from today
    Politics

    All GP surgeries in England must offer online booking from today

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    Advertisment
    News Headlines
    Greggs increasing prices tomorrow due to higher employment costs

    Greggs increasing prices tomorrow due to higher employment costs

    Ringleader of Rochdale grooming gang jailed for 35 years

    Ringleader of Rochdale grooming gang jailed for 35 years

    Save 70% on VIP subscription
    News Briefings - the way to a better life
    News Briefings - the way to a better life
    Advert by Sponsors
    More from WTX News
    The latest gaming news - with game reviews and tips and tricks. updated 24 hours a day.
    The latest gaming news
    Hot off the press!
    • Greggs increasing prices tomorrow due to higher employment costs October 1, 2025
    • Rock & Roll It podcast Asia Cup 2025 review October 1, 2025
    • Mbappé keeps climbing Champions League all-time goal-scoring list October 1, 2025
    • A Strictly Come Dancing dark horse has upended the entire competition October 1, 2025
    • Ringleader of Rochdale grooming gang jailed for 35 years October 1, 2025
    WTX News latest breaking news sports and travel
    Latest News and analysis - Deciphering through the BS with exclusive News Briefings
    Facebook X (Twitter) TikTok Instagram

    News

    • World News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • EU News
    • Business
    • Opinions
    • News Briefing
    • Live News

    Company

    • About WTX News
    • Register
    • Advertising
    • Work with us
    • Contact
    • Community
    • GDPR Policy
    • Privacy

    Services

    • Fitness for free
    • Insta Talk
    • How to guides
    • Climate Change
    • In Review
    • Expose
    • NEWS SUMMARY
    • Money Saving Expert

    News delivered to your inbox

    Copyright WTX News 2025

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.