Welfare Bill introduced to parliament

The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill has been introduced to parliament.

The Bill will provide 13-weeks of additional financial security to existing claimants affected by changes to the PIP daily living component, including those who their lose eligibility to Carers Allowance and the carer’s element of Universal Credit.

This additional protection is designed give people who will be affected by the changes time to adapt, access new, tailored employment support, and plan for their future once they are reassessed and their entitlement ends.

Since the pandemic, the number of PIP awards has more than doubled – up from 13,000 a month to 34,000 a month.

Without reform, the number of working age people on disability benefits is set to more than double this decade to 4.3 million. Spending on working age disability and incapacity benefits is up £20 billion since the pandemic and is set to increase by almost that much again by the end of this Parliament.

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: "Our social security system is at a crossroads. Unless we reform it, more people will be denied opportunities, and it may not be there for those who need it.

"This legislation represents a new social contract and marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity.

"This will give people peace of mind, while also fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot - putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change."