Many constituents have contacted me about the Government’s proposed welfare reforms. Since the reforms were announced, I have worked hard to listen to you and raise your concerns. It was very clear that people had very valid worries. There are different ways for MPs to do this and I chose to raise mine directly with Ministers.
I wrote to Ministers and met 121 with the Secretary of State Liz Kendall and the Minister for Disability Stephen Timms to discuss these, particularly regarding the proposed changes to PIP eligibility. I also made a submission to the consultation on the Pathways to Work Green Paper, directly feeding in concerns raised at the welfare forum I held.
Following concerns raised by many MPs, both publicly and privately, the Government made a number of welcome changes to the Bill. They announced that:
- Current PIP claimants will be exempt from any changes and will stay within the current system. This means that if you currently receive PIP, you will be subject to the same criteria you were before.
- In fact, there will be no changes to the PIP system at all until a wider review of the PIP assessment process, announced by the Government, is complete. This will include activities, descriptors and the associated points. This will be led by the Minister for Social Security and Disability Stephen Timms. It will be co-produced with disabled people along with the organisations that represent them – this is vitally important. Section 5 of the Bill relating to PIP will be removed entirely.
- All existing recipients of the Universal Credit health element – and any new claimant meeting the severe conditions criteria – will have their incomes fully protected in real terms.
The government has also brought forward funding for employment support for sick and disabled people.
These changes are a positive step forward to ensuring that disabled people and the most vulnerable are protected. I welcome that the government has listened, but I wish the changes had been announced sooner. I did vote for the proposals to progress to the next stage, however this is not the end of the process. Next week, there will be further scrutiny and amendments to the Bill we voted on 1st July.
I also want to note that these changes come alongside the broader reforms set out. They include the increase in the standard rate of Universal Credit, the end to reassessments for disabled people who will never be able to work and people with severe lifelong conditions, and the introduction of “right to try” so people can try work without fear of losing their benefits.
The current welfare system is broken and needs reform. Leaving the status quo as it is, is not in anyone’s interest. Reform must ensure that those who can work are supported to do so and that those who cannot are protected. Any changes to the welfare system must also be co-produced with disabled people and disability rights organisations. I will work to ensure this is the case, including through the Timms Review.
I will keep listening, raising questions and engaging closely with this legislation.
I’ll always try to do my best for the people of Norwich North.
Alice