Latest news with #PathwaystoWork
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
DTA ‘Pathways to Work' program celebrates its participants
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Healey-Driscoll Administration is celebrating residents who have transitioned from public assistance to meaningful employment. The Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) provides services and benefits to over 1.2 million people in the state. When families ask for SNAP or cash assistance, they are offered other opportunities, such as different programs. How many families are in Massachusetts emergency housing assistance One of the programs is called 'Pathways to Work'. In this program, participants receive job and college readiness training. At the end, some may get a GED, a Hi-Set, or a new job. It all comes at their own pace. 'There were times where I, I wasn't able to attain a job due to unforseen circumstances, and because of DTA and the programs that they do require for us, I was able to succeed, save money and become the person I did want to become,' Pathways To Work participant Crystal Ortiz said. The celebration recognized the participants who finished the program. One client ended up getting a job as a career coach through DTA. There was also a panel discussion, testimonies, and remarks from DTA leaders. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Epoch Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Epoch Times
Benefits System Reforms Will Lead to Rise in Homelessness, Charities Say
The government's proposed welfare reforms will increase homelessness, push people further away from the labour market, and add extra pressure on already-stretched statutory services, major charities have said. Homeless charities St. Mungo's and Shelter are among those who have The charities said in the open letter to the minister published on Friday said that while they support the government's ambition to ensure people on sickness benefits have the opportunity to get back to work, as a sector, they cannot support the measures outlined in the government's 'Pathways to Work' green paper. They said, 'We can only conclude that the proposed changes will increase the number of people at risk of becoming homeless for the first time, increase the number of people we have helped resolve their homelessness fall back into it and increase the length of time it takes to resolve people's homelessness in the future.' The signatories said that these increases in homelessness will have a 'catastrophic impact' on mental and physical health, as well as employment and education opportunities. They added that statutory services for helping the homeless will be put under even greater strain, with a further rise in homelessness having a 'domino effect of imposing a significant financial cost to the state, as it will need to pay for more temporary accommodation and emergency homelessness services.' Benefits Bill to Hit £70 Billion The proposals come amid the rising cost of benefits, which is predicted to hit £70 billion a year by the end of this decade. Related Stories 3/19/2025 2/7/2025 There are around 2.8 million people who are economically inactive owing to long-term sickness. This is one of the highest rates in the G7, with the UK the only major economy whose employment rate has not recovered since the COVID-19 pandemic era. The PIP figures are also growing, with 3.66 million people entitled to the benefit as of January 2025, up 12 percent on the year before and 71 percent higher than January 2020, before the start of lockdowns. Kendall Eligibility for entitlement for PIPs, which is the main disability benefit used to help cover the extra costs of living with a condition or disability, will be tightened so that they will only be targeted to those with higher needs. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will also reintroduce reassessments for those on incapacity benefits, with the exception of those whose conditions mean they will never improve. Jobseekers will have a 'right to try' guarantee, meaning that someone on the path to returning to work or trying to work will not immediately have their benefits reassessed. However, the DWP's Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall arrives to attend the weekly Cabinet meeting at Downing Street in London, on Nov. 26, Next Week Responding to the charities' report, a government spokesperson said, '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.' The spokesperson also highlighted the government's £1 billion scheme to help the long-term sick or disabled 'out of poverty and into good, secure jobs.' 'We have also raised the national living wage, increased benefits, and given additional help to the poorest households, as part of our Plan for Change,' the spokesperson added. The government's 'Pathways to Work' green paper will be voted on in parliament next week and though likely to pass, has already seen opposition from within the Labour Party. This includes from Mother of the House Diane Abbott, who The Labour government has also faced PA Media contributed to this report.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
PIP disability benefit changes begin as DWP review gets underway
The government has initiated a review of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a key benefit for individuals with long-term health conditions or disabilities, as part of Labour's cost-cutting benefit reforms. Confirming the review, work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall said that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will engage with disabled individuals and relevant organisations to explore potential adjustments to eligibility criteria. Currently, approximately 3.7 million people across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland receive PIP, a benefit designed to assist those facing challenges due to long-term physical or mental health issues. Changes to the health-related benefit formed the bulk of savings in Labour's 'Pathways to Work' Green Paper, with the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) projecting that anticipated changes could impact around 800,000 recipients. However, some independent experts predict the impacts could be even greater. The announcement has prompted calls from several Labour MPs for Ms Kendall to release an impact assessment detailing the potential consequences of these changes, as they will likely be expected to vote on the measures before this become available. Around 40 are now expected to mount a rebellion against the plans when they are presented to Parliament. Ms Kendall said: 'Personal independence payments is a crucial benefit that makes a contribution towards the extra costs of living with a disability. '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. '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. 'My right honourable friend, the minister for social security and disability is going to be inviting in stakeholders this week to develop the scope, and terms of reference for this review. We will keep the House updated as this work progresses.' Labour MP Imran Hussain (Bradford East) said 41,000 disabled people in his constituency would be affected. He told MPs many of them were 'rightly horrified' by Ms Kendall's policy. He drew attention to the change which means people will now need to score four points on an individual disability assessment category, which can indicate difficulties with parts of day-to-day life. Mr Hussain said: 'The four-point rule has the potential to devastate the lives of tens of thousands of people in Bradford overnight. These plans would take away the vital lifeline from those with the greatest need, living in the most deprived areas, often. I cannot support any cuts that worsen inequality in places like Bradford. 'So I say to the minister, in absolute sincerity, please listen to the growing calls, in this place 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?' Ms Kendall replied: 'I hear very clearly what my honourable friend says, but I also want to be clear to the House – for people who can never work, we want to protect them. For disabled people who can work, we want to support them. 'The truth is that if you are a disabled person and in work, you are half as likely to be poor than if you are out of work. We want to improve people's chances and choices by supporting those who can work, to do so, and protecting those who cannot.' The changes, which are part of a package of measures that could save £5 billion-a-year by the end of the decade, were announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves in March. They include the reintroduction of reassessments for people on incapacity benefits, alongside improved support aimed at ensuring claimants 'aren't indefinitely written off'. In a bid to to focus personal independence payments (PIP) on those with higher needs, eligibility requirements would be tightened from November 2026 for the 'daily living element' of the benefit. Mr Hussain's party colleagues Warinder Juss (Wolverhampton West) and Neil Duncan-Jordan (Poole) said ministers should be transparent about how current claimants will be affected. Richard Burgon (Leeds East) warned they could be pushed into poverty, and said it 'flew in the face of what a Labour government is meant to do'. Mr Juss said: 'Can my right honourable friend please outline what analysis has been done to understand how the changes proposed in the pathways to work Green Paper will affect those who rely on PIP not just for employment support, but for their daily living and mobility needs?' Work and pensions minister Sir Stephen Timms said: 'We are determined to open up opportunities for people who have been out of work, often for a long time, on health and disability grounds, give them the chance through much better employment support to get into work, but we recognise there will be people who will not be able to work and will never be able to work.' He said those with the most severe lifelong conditions will qualify for the new universal credit health element from April next year.
ITV News
07-05-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Police were called after disability campaigners were refused entry to consultation on benefit reform
ITV Granada's Elaine Willcox reports on protests in Manchester over government plans to reform PIP benefits. Protests have taken place at a meeting in Manchester to discuss government proposals on benefits reform. Protestors gathered at Angel Meadow Park in the city centre this morning at the invite-only consultation on the DWP Green paper on Pathways to Work. The organisation Disabled People Against Cuts organised the protest at the meeting over fears that benefits for disabled people will be cut back, at a time when the cost of living is on the rise. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced the cuts earlier this year, mostly from a reduction in support for those on incapacity or disability benefits. Three million people are expected to be impacted by the savings. Musician Dennis Queen relies on Personal Independence Payments and says, "The question is 'Can any of you afford to lose a third of your income?' The answer to which is 'no'." "They don't need to come round the country, holding meetings, asking anyone 'Can you afford to lose a big chunk of your income'." Protestors were unable to get into the meeting and police were called. It's understood that just 20 tickets were issued to the meeting and dozens of disabled people were turned away, which Amnesty International, who attended the protest, labelled a violation of people's rights. Amnesty's Jen Clark says, "Look at what's happening today, they're asking to be let in and have a say, and they're being refused entry." "You know this isn't OK." "We've written to the Secretary of State alongside them saying exactly that." But the government say they need to save £5 billion, pledging support but saying that the system as it is, can't continue. "When it relates to sickness benefit for Universal Credit and PIP, where almost one in ten people are receiving it, we've got to make sure that it's going to the people who really need it and deserve it more," says Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. He adds, "So it is difficult, but we've got to look at how that system is working because it's not sustainable at the minute."
Daily Record
07-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
DWP confirms new plans for people on PIP with ‘light touch' ongoing award
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed planned reforms to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will also include changes for people with an ongoing 'light touch' award, which is typically in place for 10 years before the need for a review. Minister for Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms said that the new Green Paper outlines 'plans to consider changes to improve the experience for people who receive these ongoing awards in PIP'. He added that this would include improving the information DWP provides when issuing an ongoing PIP award, support available to claimants between reviews, and 'reviewing the length of time between 'light touch' reviews'. The DWP Minister's comments came after Liberal Democrat MP Ian Roome recently asked what changes the Department is making to 'PIP reassessments for claimants suffering from longer-term degenerative conditions'. In a written response, Sir Stephen said: 'Award reviews are an important feature of Personal Independence Payment to ensure people receive the correct level of benefit, both for those whose needs will increase and those whose needs may decrease. 'People who receive the highest level of PIP and whose needs will not improve, receive a PIP award for a continuous period with a light touch review at the 10-year point. 'In the Green Paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working published on 18 March we outline plans to consider changes to improve the experience for people who receive these ongoing awards in PIP. 'These include improving the information we provide when we write to people about ongoing PIP award decisions, what support is offered between 'light touch' reviews and reviewing the length of time between 'light touch' reviews.' The planned welfare reforms are due to come into effect in November 2026 for new claimants. Existing claimants would not see any changes until their current award is due for review - the date of this can be found on your award letter. Ongoing PIP awards The latest DWP statistics show that at the end of January some 3.7 million people across Great Britain were in receipt of PIP - now worth up to £749.80 every four weeks following the annual uprating in April. The data also indicates that 1.5m PIP claimants have an ongoing award, of five years or longer, for a disability, long-term illness, physical or mental health condition. More than 58 per cent of people claiming PIP for a visual disease have a monthly award of up to £749.80 for five years or more. More than half of all claimants with general musculoskeletal conditions (50.8%) such as arthritis, muscle or joint pain, have been given a longer award, along with 49.5 per cent of people with a neurological condition such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy. The current edition of the PIP Handbook explains the decision maker will make an award of PIP based on the impact of the claimant's health condition or disability on their daily life and their ability to live independently. It adds: 'The length of award will be based upon each claimant's individual circumstances.' It's important to be aware the guidance from the DWP also says most claimants will have their award regularly reviewed, 'regardless of the length of the award' in order to make sure 'everyone continues to receive the most appropriate level of support'. Some claimants will be given a limited term award for a fixed period of up to two years - DWP says these awards will not be reviewed. Limited awards with no review date are given where the claimant's health condition may be reasonably expected to improve. Ongoing awards with a 'light touch' review A 'light touch' review is typically awarded to claimants who have: very stable needs which are unlikely to change over time high level needs which will either stay the same or get worse a planned award review date due on or at State Pension age a special rules for end of life claim due when of State Pension age The DWP guidance states: 'These claimants would not usually be expected to have a face-to-face assessment at review.' The annual uprating of 1.7 per cent will see people on disability benefits receive between £29.20 and £187.45 each week, some £116.80 or £749.80 every four-week pay period. Over the course of the financial year, this will see people on the highest awards receive £9,747 in extra cash help. It's important to be aware the maximum amount of £749.80 is based on someone in receipt of the highest award for both the daily living and mobility components. Six conditions with PIP award of five years or longer It's important to be aware people with different health conditions can be awarded PIP for up to five years or longer. The award is based on how the condition affects the claimant. The conditions listed below have the highest percentage rate of five-year or longer awards given to claimants at the end of January 2025. Condition Total Claimants 5-Year+ Awards % Visual disease 58,685 34,692 58.7% Musculoskeletal disease (general) 682,391 341,434 50.8% Neurological disease 468,113 230,412 49.5% Respiratory disease 138,376 64,835 46.9% Autoimmune disease (connective tissue disorders) 19,542 8,697 45.2% Musculoskeletal disease (regional) 426,038 185,916 44.6% Total number of PIP claimants 3,694,536 1,501,215 41% PIP payment rates 2025/26 You will be paid the following amounts per week (paid every four weeks in arrears) - depending on your award: Daily living Standard: £73.90 Enhanced: £110.40 Mobility Standard: £29.20 Enhanced: £77.05
