Major disability benefit cuts delayed in concession to Labour rebels
In an unusual move, Social Security Minister Stephen Timms confirmed during the debate on the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill that the Government was removing the controversial rule changes for Personal Independence Payment (Pip) claimants.
Changes will only be made after he concludes his review, to be carried out with disability charities and expected next autumn, into changing eligibility thresholds.
The Government had planned to change the rules with Tuesday's vote so that new Pip claimants can only qualify for the benefit if they score at least a four in one category of the assessments of disability.
People will still need to score at least eight points across 10 categories measuring their ability to carry out daily tasks like washing themselves and dressing.
But the proposed changes have led to charges that the Government is creating a "two-tier" system, because those currently claiming PIP will keep their benefits while new claimants will be subject to tougher rules.
Critics have also said it is unfair that people with difficulties carrying out daily tasks will be disadvantaged because they struggle across the piece rather than particularly in one area.
Intervening in the debate, Timms noted that Labour MPs had "raised concerns that the changes to Pip are coming ahead of the conclusions of the review of the assessment that I will be leading".
He added: "We have heard those concerns, and that is why I can announce that we are going to remove the clause five from the Bill at committee, that we will move straight to the wider review, sometimes referred to as the Timms review, and only make changes to Pip eligibility activities and descriptors following that review."
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