Liz Kendall is to begin an overhaul of the disability benefit assessment process long decried by campaigners as cruel, calling on groups to engage with the changes amid criticism of the government’s forthcoming welfare cuts.
The work and pensions secretary said on Monday she was beginning the process of abolishing the work capability assessment and overhauling the process to apply for the personal independence payment (Pip) – which can be paid to those in or out of work – to form a single assessment process.
Kendall said the changes would involve significant consultation with disabled people. Several MPs have been highly critical of the government’s decision not to consult on drastic changes to eligibility for Pip and the top-ups to universal credit for those who cannot work because of disability.
Her announcement comes days after 42 Labour MPs signed a letter to the Guardian calling for a pause on the welfare changes, which campaigners say will push thousands of people into poverty. The MPs said they could not support the green paper in its current form.
Several MPs told Kendall in the Commons last week they remained deeply concerned about the impact of the cuts on constituents. The government has said the changes are necessary to address the rising welfare bill and sharp increase in Pip awards – and to encourage more unemployed disabled people to try to get back into work.
Neil Duncan-Jordan, the MP for Poole, who organised the letter, said helping people into work would “require investment in employment support programmes, incentives for employers to recruit them and enforcement of anti-discrimination rules.
“Isn’t it appropriate the members are only asked to vote on any changes to the benefits system after all the information about the impact of these proposals has been provided?”
Polly Billington, the MP for East Thanet, who did not sign the letter, criticised a proposed benefits change to delay access to the health element of universal credit to age 22. She asked: “Can she explain to me how denying access to the heath-related element of universal credit will help these young people into work?”
Imran Hussain, Bradford East MP, said to Kendall: “Please listen to the growing calls, in this place [parliament] and out there, to scrap these unfair cuts and instead do the right thing by taxing the super-rich so they can pay their fair share.”
Kendall said she hoped MPs would take heart from the changes to the assessment process that would come from the review beginning this week.
“I know how anxious many people are when there’s talk about reform, but this government wants to ensure Pip is fair for people who need it now and into the future,” she said.
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“In our green paper we promised to review the Pip assessment, working with disabled people, the organisations that represent them, and other experts. And I can tell the house we are starting the first phase of that review today.”
Kendall said she would invite disability campaigners and disabled people to be involved in the implementation of many of the changes. “We are consulting with disabled people and the organisations that represent them about what support can be available for anyone who loses out.
“We will be consulting with disabled people about how to build our £1bn-a-year employment support programme, and we will make sure that those who can never work will be protected, including by making sure that they do not have to go through reassessment repeatedly, which has been the situation so far.”
In the green paper published in March, the Department for Work and Pensions said experiences of the assessment were “not always positive” and that reporting of mental health or neurodiverse conditions was increasing more rapidly and more markedly among younger adults – another reason it gave for reviewing the assessment.
