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The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) scheme is “creaking” due to a surge in demand and many claimants will face cuts, the Work and Pensions Secretary has warned.
Mel Stride claims benefits reform will make Britain’s benefits system “fit for the future” and urges companies to step up recruitment efforts in the UK rather than looking overseas. , launched a new ministerial task force and advertising campaign to promote links between business and work. Center.
But he warned that “public support for welfare cannot be taken for granted” and laid out plans to cut the overall bill.
The Government has already announced changes to PIP, which in some cases will see cash payments replaced by other forms of support.
Speaking in London, Stride said the benefit, which supplements the incomes of disabled people who face additional costs due to their disability status, is “creaking under the weight of the profound changes we have seen in the nature of disability.” “There is,” he said. It was introduced over 10 years ago. ”
He added: “If we do nothing, taxpayers’ costs will increase by 60% over the next five years, amounting to an increase of almost £14 billion. So my Modernising Support Green Paper sets out how the welfare system can better target support to those who need it most and deliver better value for taxpayers.
“Because public support for welfare cannot be taken for granted. It is based on a caring but fair system, and spending is carefully managed.”
The minister claimed that reforms would help more Britons find work and reduce the need for mass immigration, but blamed social media and the coronavirus lockdown for the worsening mental health of some young people. They blamed this on the government and claimed that it had become difficult for them to get jobs.
However, what was asked was I On whether PIP claimants in England and Wales should prepare for a reduction in income due to the planned review, Mr Stride said only: A one-size-fits-all approach to PIP is needed because people have different needs that need to be addressed. And over time, we’ve started to see an epidemic of mental health conditions, for example.
“So all the consultations are doing is looking at how other countries around the world are doing, and there are many variations of this, and in practice, countries receiving certain benefits We are moving toward a system that better meets the needs of our customers.”
He also used his speech to call for the use of AI in the welfare system, arguing that new technology could highlight potential problems, for example by scanning the 25,000 letters that come into the Department for Work and Pensions every day and selecting those that involve vulnerable people or require urgent attention.
Alison McGovern, Labour’s shadow work and pensions secretary, said: “After exposing the Tories’ terrible failures on work, skills and training, Mel Stride will be furious if she finds out who has been in power for the past 14 years. ” he said.
“Tabby shops and billboards don’t even scratch the surface of what it takes to make Britain work. The Conservatives will prioritize a proper plan to tackle labor shortages and link our immigration system to skills. The Labor Party’s plan should be adopted.
And Martin Green, from Care England, argued the government was not doing enough to strengthen the country’s workforce, saying: “Today’s announcement is the latest short-term commitment which leaves key issues of pay, working conditions and meaningful career progression unresolved.”