5 hours Ago By [email protected] (Ben Hurst)
A government minister finally answered a key question impacting more than 3.3 million people who claim Personal Independence payments after being asked it three times by Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid . The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has previously hinted at a "strong case to change the system of health and disability benefits across Great Britain".
With Chancellor Rachel Reeves facing a significant increase in the UK's borrowing costs, it is believed that savings need to be found in the benefits budget. Concerns are growing that the 3.3 million people on PIPs could be targeted.
Host Susanna Reid questioned Minister for Employment Alison McGovern about the possibility of reducing Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) for individuals: "I want to ask you about another group of people who feel like you're going to take money away from them, and these aren't fraudsters, these are people with disabilities living on PIPs personal independence payments." The show also featured disability campaigner and actor Sam Renke, who expressed her concerns: "I guess that our government doesn't see us as a drain and a burden, and instead of actually making us feel like we're living on eggshells, actually invest in us, rather than, you know, the of us constantly living in the fear of things being taken away, it's as simple as that." Susanna added: “Sam Renke says every time a brown envelope comes through her door, she thinks it’s going to be your department saying we’re cutting your PIP.
” Ms McGovern said a process of ‘reassessing people’s payments’ was currently taking place. She said: “So I understand that I’ve listened to my own constituents who are fearful and don’t trust DWP and a lot of the changes that we want to make is to help and support people in a better way so that we can deal with that. I want disabled people to have the right to work and the right to dignity and respect, like everybody else.
” Susanna asked: “Are you going to reassess PIP payments for people?” Ms McGovern replied: “We have already put forward in a white paper how we’re changing our employment support service so that we can help people move into work.” Susanna asked again: “Are you reassessing their PIP payments?” Ms McGovern said: “So with regards to health and disability benefits. The previous government did a consultation on this that, you know, wasn’t done well at all and has been into the courts.
“We will bring forward our own proposals and we have a green paper coming. The Minister for Disabled people, Stephen Timms is working with disabled people and establishing a new panel so that we can listen to people properly as we do this.” Susanna asked for the third time: “Are you reassessing people’s PIP payments?” Richard Madeley added: “Are you gonna cut them?“ Ms McGovern said: “Well, we will bring forward a green paper to discuss what the future will be, because at the moment the system doesn’t work for anybody.
The work capability assessment that’s part of the Universal Credit system is a failure. It doesn’t work for people who need to access that support. With regards to PIP, it’s not working either, so we need to change the system.
“But we want to do that with disabled people and that’s why we’re, listening, and we will put forward our ideas in a green paper that we can talk to people about and that so that we can make this system work. But above all else, we’ve got to make sure that disabled people have respect and can work and that we, as Sam said, quite rightly, we value their contribution like everybody else in this society.”.
