Latest news with #PersonalIndependencePayments
The National
2 days ago
- Business
- The National
'I felt ashamed': Labour MP calls out Labour's planned welfare cuts
Work and Pensions committee chair Debbie Abrahams fumed at the Prime Minister when he appeared at the Liaison Committee in Westminster on Monday, as she took him to task over the proposed cuts to Personal Independence Payments (Pip). Abrahams said that the bill – which was gutted of the most controversial element in last-ditch attempt to see off a bruising rebellion – was 'poor legislation' which had been 'designed to save money for the Treasury by cutting support to sick and disabled people'. She added: 'It was so far removed from Labour values of fairness and social justice, let alone compassion and common decency. I have to say I felt ashamed. "What are the values that will underpin the Government in terms of the policymaking going forward, so that we avoid the harms, the potential harms and the real harms that people are going to face, disabled people, vulnerable people are going face?' Keir Starmer (above) hit back, though conceded that he was 'not going to pretend that we got everything right in recent weeks'. He said: 'I think this is a really important Labour value. I think the fact that nearly a million people, young people, out of work, not earning or learning is a huge challenge for our country. None of us should be accepting of a system that operates like that, it is broken, it needs to be mended. READ MORE: Zarah Sultana hits out at 'racist' cartoon by 'right-wing hack' in Observer "All the evidence is that if you're on benefits and out of work at that young age, the likelihood of ever getting into good, well-paid, secure employment goes down, down, down for the rest of your life. 'One in 10 working age people out of work and three million locked out for health-related reasons. It is no wonder that almost everybody says the system is broken and it's got to be changed and I'm glad that we've started the process of change, I'm not going to pretend that we got everything right in recent weeks but we do need to reform the system and we should take that on as a Labour argument, in my view.' Labour had been planning to restrict access to Pip for new claimants so that only the most sick and disabled people would qualify. But faced with the prospect of a revolt from Labour MPs, the Government backed down and cut this from the bill, for which Abrahams eventually voted. It retained a less controversial but still criticised policy to halve the health element of Universal Credit for existing claimants and have the top-up frozen for new claimants at the lower level. Those already receiving the benefit will get a cash-terms boost from an increase to the standard allowance though people under the age of 22 will no longer be eligible. Elsewhere in the hour and a half grilling from committee chairs, Starmer said that the UK Government would respond 'in due course' to the International Court of Justice's advisory opinion on Israel's illegal occupation of Palestinian territories, which called on other states not to facilitate increasing landgrabs from unlawful settlers.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Keir Starmer confronted over DWP disability cuts as Labour MP says she was 'ashamed'
Work and Pensions Committee chair Debbie Abrahams told Keir Starmer that the original benefit cuts were 'far removed' from traditional Labour values of fairness and social justice Keir Starmer was confronted by a senior Labour MP, who said the Government's plans to slash disability benefits left her "ashamed". In a tense exchange, Work and Pensions Committee chair Debbie Abrahams said the original plans were 'far removed' from traditional Labour values of fairness and social justice, as well as compassion and common decency'. And she pressed the PM on what he would like to say to the disabled people plunged into "fear and anxiety" before the Government watered down its plans. Ms Abrahams was among the Labour rebels who forced a climbdown on the legislation, which meant proposed cuts to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) were shelved until next year. The clash came as Mr Starmer was grilled by the Commons Liaison Committee ahead of the summer recess - with child poverty and international affairs topping the agenda. Ms Abrahams told the PM: "This was poor legislation. It was designed to save money for the Treasury by cutting support to sick and disabled people. "It was so far removed from Labour values of fairness and social justice, let alone compassion and common decency, I have to say I felt ashamed." Asked what values would drive the Government's reforms, Mr Starmer replied: "I think this is a really important Labour value. "I think the fact that nearly 1 million young people are out of work, not earning or learning, is a huge challenge for our country. None of us should be accepting of a system like that, it is broken and needs to be mended." He added: "We do need to reform the system and we should take that on as a Labour argument in my view." Ms Abrahams replied: "Everybody agrees that reform needs to happen. It is a broken system... reform does not mean cuts to household incomes for already struggling households. "We must do better Prime Minister. You mentioned about reducing poverty. This has the potential of actually increasing it." Earlier, the PM told MPs that "tackling poverty and breaking down barriers" was at the heart of his agenda. He said: "I want people to feel better off and there has to be a central focus on living standards. I want them to feel - as they will - that the health service is working much better, is there for them and their families in a way that it hasn't been for many years. "And I want them to feel safe and secure, both in their immediate neighbourhood and as a country, both our borders and national security and defence. So, they're the three things that I'm focused on more than anything else." Mr Starmer also restated his commitment to driving down child poverty levels. He said: "I'm very proud of the fact that the last Labour government drove down poverty, and I'm determined this Government is going to as well."
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
People with stress, anxiety or depression could be entitled to PIP or ADP
More than 1.4 million people are currently receiving PIP or Adult Disability Payment to help with a mental health condition. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - information New research commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) found that at the end of July 2024, 3.6 million people were entitled to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) in England and Wales. At the time, this represented a 29 per cent increase in the number of claimants since July 2021 (2.8m). DWP reports that mental health conditions and behavioural disorders have been a primary driver of the increase in the number of working age people claiming PIP. The monthly average of new PIP awards where the primary medical condition was anxiety and depression has increased from 2,500 per month in 2019, to 8,800 per month in 2024. At the end of April 2025, there were more than 3.7m people in receipt of PIP. That figure includes 1,444,016 people receiving financial support for 'Psychiatric disorders'. This is the main disabling descriptor used by the DWP and it covers anxiety and mood disorders, stress reactions and depressive disorders, along with a wide range of other conditions that may affect someone's mental wellbeing. However, that figure does not include new or existing claimants living in Scotland in receipt of Adult Disability Payment (ADP) - the devolved disability payment which has now replaced all new claims for PIP made north of the border. PIP provides additional financial support of between £29.20 and £187.45 per week to adults with a disability, long-term illness, or physical or mental health condition who need help completing daily tasks or moving around. If you need additional support to cover the costs of daily living or mobility needs due to a mental health condition, it may be worthwhile considering making a new claim for PIP or ADP. Even though new claims for PIP have been replaced in Scotland by ADP, it shares most of the same eligibility criteria. Full guidance on ADP can be found on the website here. Who might be eligible for PIP or ADP? To be eligible for PIP or ADP, you must have a health condition or disability where you: have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months You usually need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply. In addition to what we have outlined above, if you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP or ADP. preparing, cooking or eating food managing your medication washing, bathing or using the toilet dressing and undressing engaging and communicating with other people reading and understanding written information making decisions about money planning a journey or following a route moving around There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the website here. DWP or Social Security Scotland will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they will look at: whether you can do it safely how long it takes you how often your condition affects this activity whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment How are PIP and ADP paid? PIP and ADP are usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid weekly. It will be paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account. ADP is paid at the same rates as PIP. PIP and ADP payment rates You will need an assessment to work out the level of financial help you will receive and your rate will be regularly reviewed to make sure you are getting the right support. Payments are made every four weeks. PIP is made up of two components: Daily living Mobility Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you. You will be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances: Daily living Standard rate: £73.90 Enhanced rate: £110.40 Mobility Standard rate: £29.20 Enhanced rate: £77.05 How you are assessed You will be assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP determine the level of financial support, if any, you need, for PIP. Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are offered alongside video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments - it's important to be aware that the health professional and DWP determine which type of assessment is best suited for each claimant. You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments here. Adult Disability Payment assessments will not involve face-to-face assessments, unless this is preferred by the claimant - find out more about the changes here. How do you make a claim for PIP? You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you will find all the information you need to apply on the website here. Before you call, you will need: your contact details your date of birth your National Insurance number - this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits your bank or building society account number and sort code your doctor or health worker's name, address and telephone number dates and addresses for any time you've spent abroad, in a care home or hospital How to apply for ADP People can apply for ADP, over the phone, by post or in-person. To find out more or apply, visit the dedicated pages on here or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Keir Starmer faces poverty grilling from top MPs amid call to axe DWP two-child benefit limit
Keir Starmer, who will appear at the Liaison Committee on Monday, has been warned that without scrapping the Tory-era two-child benefit limit he risks overseeing a rise in poverty Keir Starmer is set to face a grilling from MPs on levels of poverty amid fresh calls to axe the controversial two-child benefit limit. The Prime Minister, who will appear at the Liaison Committee on Monday, has insisted he will leave "no stone unturned" to tackle levels of child poverty But he faces warnings today that without scrapping the Tory-era two-child benefit limit he risks overseeing the first Labour government to see a "significant rise in child poverty". The policy, which has been blamed for trapping kids in poverty, restricts parents from claiming Child Tax Credits and Universal Credit for a third or subsequent child. Recently Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said scrapping the measure remains on the table as part of a delayed child poverty strategy. She said it will be "looking at every lever and we'll continue to look at every lever to lift children out of poverty". Monday's session will give MPs the chance to quiz Mr Starmer on the strategy. Dan Paskins, executive director at Save the Children, told The Mirror: "The Prime Minister has been clear that tackling child poverty is his government's moral mission. mExpanding free school meals and Best Start Family Hubs shows ambition but will not be enough to truly reduce the number of children growing up in hardship." He added: "Every day 109 more children are impacted by the two-child limit, facing growing up without enough to get by, simply because they have more siblings. The Prime Minister has a choice to make ahead of the Autumn Budget: scrap the two-child limit on Universal Credit in full or risk being the first Labour government to oversee a significant rise in child poverty." Alison Garnham, chief executive of the Child Poverty Action Group, added: "The key question for the PM is given his government has a moral mission to reduce child poverty, will he now commit to scrapping the two-child limit in the autumn child poverty strategy as the most cost-effective way to get record child poverty down?" Speaking last month, Mr Starmer said: "I want to get to the root causes of child poverty. One of the greatest things the last Labour government did was to drive down child poverty. I am determined we will do that." MPs on the Liaison Committee include three senior Labour MPs - Debbie Abrahams, Helen Hayes, and Florence Eshalomi. All three signed an amendment to the welfare bill last month to block cuts to a key disability benefit - Personal Independence Payments (PIP). A government analysis of the reforms, which were eventually gutted in a major climbdown, had warned the cuts could result in 250,000 people being pushed into poverty.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
More than one million people claim PIP for these 20 psychiatric conditions
Personal Independence Payments provide up to £749 per month to help people with the extra costs of being disabled or ill The Department for Work and Pensions' flagship disability benefit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), provides financial support to help people manage the extra costs that come with disability. Taxpayers' Alliance data reveals that out of the 3.7 million people currently receiving PIP, more than 1.3 million have psychiatric conditions as their primary condition. Mixed anxiety and depressive disorders top the list as the most common condition, with 365,653 beneficiaries. In stark contrast, factitious disorder, previously known as Munchausen syndrome, has only 18 successful PIP claims. This condition sees patients feigning illness or disability, sometimes even tampering with test results or self-harming to convince others of their ill health. In some cases, the disorder can be imposed on another person, typically when caregivers suffering from factitious disorder exaggerate or fabricate symptoms in those they care for, which can escalate to administering unnecessary medication or even poisoning. PIP can offer a maximum of £749.80 every four weeks. It's not means-tested, so a person's income, savings, or employment status doesn't impact eligibility. Eligibility isn't determined by diagnosis alone; some people qualify before they even have a defined diagnosis. The exact amount received hinges on how severely your disability affects your daily life and mobility. Psychiatric conditions and claimant figures: Anxiety disorders, including agoraphobia and panic disorder - 57,797 Autistic spectrum disorders - 212,306 Cognitive disorders such as dementia - 25,656 Conduct disorder - 1,068 Eating disorders - 7,442 Enuresis, or inability to control urination - 39 Factitious disorder - 18 Faecal soiling/encopresis - 63 ADHD/ADD, also known as hyperkinetic disorder - 77,896 Global learning disability such as Down's syndrome - 158,873 Mixed anxiety and depressive disorders - 365,653 Mood disorders, including bipolar affective disorder - 137,288 Obsessive Compulsive Disorder - 10,401 Psychiatric disorders of childhood - 785 Personality disorder - 52,137 Psychotic disorders like schizophrenia - 120,229 Somatoform and dissociative disorders, including body dysmorphia - 1,781 Specific learning disorder, such as dyslexia - 34,179 Stress reactions including PTSD - 56,994 Substance use disorders - 15,656 This tally represents successful and ongoing PIP claims. According to DWP stats from the start of the year, only about 44% of new benefit claims make it this far. Just 37% of current PIP claimants receive the top award of £749.80 per month. Over 500 different health conditions are cited in PIP claims, according to Benefits and Work. Psychiatric disorders top the list for the most awards, followed by musculoskeletal disease and neurological disease. The charity highlighted that global learning disorders and cognitive disorders have the highest success rates, standing at 89.91% and 87.85% respectively. On the other hand, enuresis and faecal soiling have the lowest success rates, with figures of 34.81% and 26.80%. Factitious disorder also has a notably low success rate at 41.86%. PIP is made up of two components: a daily living element and a mobility element. Each of these also has two weekly rates: Daily living enhanced rate: £110.40 Daily living standard rate: £73.90 Mobility enhanced rate: £77.05 Mobility standard rate: £29.20
