Latest news with #LizKendall
Wales Online
9 hours ago
- Business
- Wales Online
DWP confirms the amount in bank accounts that could set off checks
DWP confirms the amount in bank accounts that could set off checks The Department for Work and Pensions said it would start clawing back the benefit from anyone with between £6,000 and £16,000 in savings - and that bank account checks would be carried out Individuals with more than £6,000 in their bank accounts have been cautioned that checks will be conducted on their accounts if they are receiving Universal Credit. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will begin withdrawing the benefit from those with savings between £6,000 and £16,000. To qualify for DWP benefits, claimants typically cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments. New checks will be implemented to prevent system abuse. Liz Kendall, Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, previously said: "We are turning off the tap to criminals who cheat the system and steal law-abiding taxpayers' money. "This means greater consequences for fraudsters who cheat and evade the system, including as a last resort in the most serious cases removing their driving licence. "Backed up by new and important safeguards including reporting mechanisms and independent oversight to ensure the powers are used proportionately and safely." Government rules for Universal Credit eligibility specify that claimants, whether single or living with a partner, must typically have no more than £16,000 in money, savings, and investments. If an individual has between £6,000 and £16,000, their Universal Credit payments will be reduced. For individuals with savings exceeding £6,000, their payments will be incrementally reduced. For every £250 held between £6,000 and £16,000, payments will be cut by £4.35. An additional £4.35 is deducted for any remaining sum that does not amount to a full £250. This approach is based on the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) assumption that each £250 in a person's bank account can generate a monthly income of £4.35. Therefore, if someone has £6,500 in savings, £6,000 will be disregarded, and the remaining £500 will be considered as providing a monthly income of £8.70. This sum is then subtracted from your monthly Universal Credit payment, according to Birmingham Live. For those receiving Job Seekers Allowance or income-related ESA, £1 per week will be deducted from their benefits for every £250 (or part thereof) in savings above £6,000. The same rule applies to income support and housing benefit recipients. These benefits are typically deposited into accounts fortnightly. Recently the DWP provided an update on its intention to scrutinise the bank accounts of benefits claimants. The Labour Party's Fraud, Error and Debt Bill is currently progressing through Parliament and is expected to be enacted later this year. One of these new and contentious powers will allow the DWP to examine the bank accounts of those suspected of having more funds than they declare and to recoup benefit debts. Another provision would enable the department to suspend driving licences. Article continues below The bill received its first reading in the House of Lords in May and an amendment to it was rejected.
The Sun
17 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Tories will join with rebel Labour MPs and vote AGAINST welfare cuts to try to defeat Keir Starmer
TORY leader Kemi Badenoch will attempt to inflict a humiliating defeat on Sir Keir Starmer by ordering her MPs to vote against the sickness welfare cuts. The Conservatives will team up with Labour rebels in a bid to defeat the package, which is expected to shave £5billion off the bloated benefits bill. 1 Around 100 Labour MPs have signed a letter to Sir Keir warning that they will not support his cuts when the vote comes before Parliament later this month. The PM has a working majority of 165, while the Tories have 120 MPs. It means that if the Conservatives team up with a large band of Labour rebels they could inflict a defeat. The Tories will oppose the plans on the basis that the cuts do not go far enough. A government source said: 'We could lose the vote if the Tories team up with Labour MPs to vote against the measures. "The rebellion is going to be awful. There will be MPs in tears. It will breed some real resentment towards No10 and it could even cause a permanent rift.' Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has claimed the reforms will get more people into work and protect the benefits system. Speaking earlier this month, she said: 'Unless we reform the system to help those who can work to do so, unless we get social security spending on a more sustainable footing . . .the risk is the welfare state won't be there for people who really need it in future.' Britain's welfare bill has ballooned since Covid. According to official estimates, taxpayers will have to pay a staggering £70billion a year on working-age sickness and disability benefits by 2030.
Daily Mirror
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Liz Kendall to face Labour MPs as government braces for huge benefits revolt
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is set to address the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) ahead of a major vote this month on cuts to sickness and disability benefits Liz Kendall is expected to face Labour MPs as the government braces for its biggest revolt yet over controversial welfare cuts. The Mirror understands the Work and Pensions Secretary will address a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) in the coming weeks. It will be a key chance for Labour MPs to quiz the minister on major welfare reforms behind-closed-doors. It is likely to come before MPs are asked to vote in June on major cuts to sickness and disability benefits, with Keir Starmer facing the biggest rebellion of his premiership so far. Earlier this month Keir Starmer faced angry backbenchers at the same private meeting, with many raising the issue of welfare reform and migration. Labour MP Ian Byrne told The Mirror: 'I will be attending the briefing from Liz Kendall and I hope the Government have listened to the disabled community who are terrified of the planned cuts, charities who have outlined their catastrophic impact and MPs who are relaying this message to the Government from their constituencies. 'After the Winter Fuel debacle and the damage it's done to the Government's standing, we need desperately to listen to the country and return to the core Labour values of tackling poverty and inequality and I hope this is the case otherwise I and many of my colleagues will vote against these measures as they currently stand.' Another MP said: 'The PLP has a declining number of true believers. She'll be met by a mix of distant silence, lots of searching questions, and a sense of bewilderment.' One MP told The Mirror: "If you think that Keir Starmer got a bit of a rough ride a couple of weeks ago and the largest issue that people had concerns about was welfare reform, and then you've got Liz Kendall standing in front of them, all of the concerns are going to be about welfare reform." They added: "I would have thought that's going to be quite an interesting meeting." A second MP said: "There's a clear indication of the mood in the PLP - it's not very forgiving at the moment." Concern has been building in the party since March when the government unveiled around £5billion in cuts to sickness and disability benefits. Most of the savings will be made from restricting eligibility to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) - a key disability benefit for people regardless of employment status. Over 100 Labour MPs have said they cannot support the changes without further evidence. And a separate group of more than 40 MPs said they were "impossible to support", describing the cuts as the "biggest attack on the welfare state since George Osborne". One MP told The Mirror many had also written privately to No10 expressing concerns, adding: "There has to be an alternative way". Last week the Commons Work and Pensions Committee - led by the senior Labour MP Debbie Abrahams - urged the government to delay the reforms. The government has been given until Monday to respond. But in a recent speech Ms Kendall stood by the reforms saying they will ensure "our welfare state is sustainable for the future". She added: "The truth is welfare reform is never easy, and it is rarely popular. Perhaps especially for Labour governments. But no responsible Labour government can resile from taking decisions because they are too difficult. Because this is not good enough for the people we came into politics to serve. "So, we will reform the welfare state. Just as great reforming Labour governments have done in the past." And she recently told The Mirror: "I understand people's concern and I understand people are anxious. But we are consulting with disabled people and the organisations that represent them on our PIP review, to look at the assessment process. I believe the task of helping people who can work, get work, is urgent." Labour MP Ian Byrne told The Mirror: 'I will be attending the briefing from Liz Kendall and I hope the Government have listened to the disabled community who are terrified of the planned cuts, charities who have outlined their catastrophic impact and MPs who are relaying this message to to the Government from their constituencies. 'After the Winter Fuel debacle and the damage it's done to the Governments standing, we need desperately to listen to the country and return to the core Labour values of tackling poverty & inequality and I hope this is the case otherwise I and many of my colleagues will vote against these measures as they currently stand.' Another MP said: 'The PLP has a declining number of true believers. 'She'll be met by a mix of distant silence, lots of searching questions, and a sense of bewilderment.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The health conditions most at risk from the DWP's controversial PIP changes
The government is reportedly looking at softening plans to restrict the eligibility rules for PIP assessments in the wake of a backlash over controversial welfare reforms being pushed through later this year. In March, work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall revealed plans to slash £5bn from the benefits bill, with the mainstay of the savings coming from limiting the number of people who qualify for personal independence payments (PIP). From November 2026, those claiming the "daily living element" of PIP – which provides financial support for individuals who need help with everyday tasks and mobility – face needing to score a minimum of four points during their assessment for the benefit in one single activity to qualify for support. The move has sparked widespread criticism from campaigners - as well as causing a rift in the Labour party - over concerns about the potential impact on hundreds of thousands of disabled people. On Thursday, the Financial Times reported that ministers are considering softening the stricter eligibility rules, which could lead to 195,000 people being prevented from losing their benefits payments. But just who is set to miss out on claiming PIP? According to data released by the DWP, the people most likely to miss out on their PIP are those who experience back pain. To continue to be eligible after the new rules are brought in, the back pain a claimant experiences must significantly impact their ability to perform daily living activities or get around. As back pain can fluctuate, claimants may struggle to demonstrate consistent, severe limitations because of it to an assessor. Campaigners have pointed out that those with other 'invisible' conditions that fluctuate are likely to be the hardest hit, and that some of the most common back pain injuries are caused by questionable work conditions. Those with arthritis and chronic pain syndromes - second and third on the list - are also highly likely to miss out on support if the illness is listed as their primary condition. Versus Arthritis, a charity dedicated to supporting people with the condition, said it was "hugely disappointed" by the government's reforms, adding that people with arthritis are one of the largest groups in receipt of PIP. "These cuts will have a negative impact on their daily lives," the charity said. "Instead, what people with arthritis who are able to work need is timely access to treatment, tailored employment support and workplace adjustments to help them stay in, or return to, the right job." Those with musculoskeletal conditions like fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis also look likely to be at risk of losing the benefit. The government's own impact assessment calculates 800,000 people being affected by the cuts to PIP, while some campaigners have claimed the figures could be significantly higher. Labour's planned changes would mean that anyone who doesn't score four or more points in one of the 12 assessment categories will lose their payments. (You can read more about the assessment criteria here.) If ministers do soften their proposals as reported by the Financial Times, it would mean those who have a high total score could also still qualify. These assessed categories are: Preparing food Eating and drinking Managing treatments (e.g., medication) Washing and bathing Using the toilet and managing incontinence Dressing and undressing Talking, listening and understanding Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words Engaging with other people face to face Making budgeting decisions Planning and following journeys Moving around Each activity has descriptors that assess the level of difficulty or assistance needed, with points assigned accordingly to determine eligibility and payment rates This would mean those who Score eight points getting the standard rate of PIP Score 12 points or more for the enhanced rate of PIP The government is believed to be looking at ways to appease MPs who do not want to back the £5bn cuts, with Sir Keir Starmer expected to face the biggest backbench rebellion since he came to power. According to the Guardian, more than 100 backbench Labour MPs have signed a letter criticising the government's planned benefits cuts, urging the government to delay the plans and rethink the proposals. A parliamentary vote on the proposals is expected in June. Earlier this week, disabled celebrities including Jack Thorne, Ruth Madeley, Liz Carr and Rosie Jones launched a new campaign criticising the cuts, named TakingthePip. The group, led by over 100 disabled public figures, has come together to "speak out against the UK government's inhumane proposal to cut disability benefits, including PIP and the health-related component of universal credit." In a letter to Starmer and Kendall, the group wrote: "There are over 16 million disabled people in the UK, yet not even a quarter of those receive PIP. Those who do are the most in need. For us, PIP is not a benefit – it is access to life. Without it, people are left housebound and isolated." A government spokesperson told Yahoo News: 'The majority of people who are currently getting PIP will continue to receive it. 'We will never compromise on protecting people who need our support, and our reforms will mean the social security system will always be there for those who will never be able to work, and that their income is protected. 'We have also announced a review of the PIP assessment, and we will be working with disabled people and key organisations representing them to consider how best to do this.'
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
DWP update shows PIP conditions most at risk of benefit cuts
A new DWP analysis has shown which conditions could be the most likely to have claimants who will not qualify under the new PIP eligibility criteria New DWP analysis shows the conditions set to be most likely to have claimants who will not qualify under the new Personal Independence Payments changes. The PIP reforms are set to be implemented in November 2026. With the current Department for Work and Pensions rules, applicants must score at least eight points across 10 questions in the daily living assessment to claim PIP. Under the proposed changes in Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall's welfare reforms, claimants will also need to achieve a minimum of four points in any single question. The latest DWP figures reveal how many current benefit recipients would not meet this requirement, categorised based on what condition they are claiming the benefit for. A total of 79% of people claiming for back pain scored fewer than four points in a single question during their assessment. Similarly, 71% of individuals with chronic pain syndromes would not meet the new criteria. A total of 62% of people with cardiovascular diseases and 55% of those with respiratory diseases could also potentially lose their benefit, according to the Daily Record. The other main condition groups and the number of claimants that do not meet the four-point requirement revealed in the DWP figures include: Regional Musculoskeletal Diseases - 71% Multiple Sclerosis and Neuropathic Diseases - 48% All other conditions - 46% Other neurological diseases - 36% Cerebrovascular diseases - 34% Cancer - 33% Epilepsy - 30% Other psychiatric disorders - 28% Cerebral Palsy and Neurological Muscular Diseases - 24% Psychotic disorders - 23% ADHD/ADD - 19% Autism spectrum disorders - 6% Learning disabilities - 3% Arthritis - 6% The 'all other conditions' category includes ailments that make up a small proportion of PIP claims. For example, visual diseases, skin disease, hearing disorders and autoimmune diseases. Kendall's welfare reform will only impact the daily living component of PIP, officials say. The mobility element, which provides £29.20 for the standard rate and £77.05 for the enhanced rate, is expected to remain unchanged under the reforms. The daily living component does offer higher weekly amounts, at £73.90 for the standard rate and £110.40 for the enhanced rate. Currently, to qualify for the standard rate you need to accumulate a total of eight points in the assessment, and 12 or more to receive the enhanced rate. The assessment concentrates on how safely, effectively and quickly you can perform certain tasks, scoring you based on how much assistance or equipment you require to complete it. The 10 tasks and their maximum available points are as follows: Preparing food - 8 Taking medication - 10 Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition - 8 Washing and bathing - 8 Managing toilet needs or incontinence - 8 Dressing and undressing - 8 Communicating verbally - 12 Reading and understanding symbols and words - 8 Engaging with other people face to face - 8 Making budgeting decisions - 6
