The last Conservative Government published the Modernising Support for Independent Living Green Paper outlining reforms that could be made to the PIP system, including looking at the PIP assessment. Our ideas included removing the PIP assessment for people with certain long-term health conditions or disabilities and, in doing so, reducing bureaucracy for those most in need of support. This came alongside an ambition to reform the current assessment to link it more closely to a person’s condition.
It is clear that the disability benefits system isn’t working in the way it was intended and it needs reform to make it sustainable for the future. The UK’s health landscape has changed, exploring such reforms can help us design a welfare system that is fit for the future, fair to the taxpayer and not over-bureaucratised for those in need of support.
The Government's proposed changes to PIP have been released. I am committed to closely scrutinising the Government's proposal to ensure that these changes are measured and fair, whilst encouraging people into work when they are able to do so.
I firmly believe that there is a need for a fair safety net, which provides peace of mind and dignity to those who are unable to work. Labour's proposals must strike the right balance and ensure that this is not jeopardised.
Kieran.