The Work and Pensions Committee has today published the
Government's response to its Get Britain Working: Pathways to
work report.
The report, published in July, called for the Government to delay
plans to reform UC Health until the full impact on people with
health conditions was understood.
Work and Pensions Committee Chair said, “We
recognise the compromises the Government made during the passage
of the Universal Credit-PIP Bill, now the Universal Credit Act.
“However, the Committee report raised outstanding concerns that
from April 2026, people with a new disability or health condition
will receive half the financial support on UC Health, £54 per
week, compared with someone with the same impairment or condition
in March 2026, who will receive £105 per week.”
“This is not only discriminatory, but without mitigations, will
potentially push more people with disabilities and health
conditions into poverty, exacerbating their condition and pushing
them further away from the labour market.
“Addressing this properly could be a fiscal bonus to the
Government too. A recent analysis estimated that up to £12.5bn
could be saved in DWP spending from reduced Universal Credit
health claims and boosted tax receipts before the end of the
decade if the DWP focused on better, more personalised,
employment and health support.”
ENDS
Notes to editors:
- The Work and Pensions Committee's
report on Pathways to
Work was published in July.
- Figure of savings from better
employment support comes from Health Equity Network
analysis commissioned by the Committee. This found that
across all claimant categories £20bn savings could be found by
2029 with an extra £1.5-1.9bn spent over two years on
employment support if 5% of claimants returned to long-term
work. Of this, savings in tax receipts and no longer needed
benefit payments to sick and disabled people who successfully
return to work would amount to £12.5bn.
- Further reports published by the
Committee scrutinising the Government's Get Britain Working plans
include:
o Reforming Jobcentres: Press Release |
Report
o Creating a new jobs and careers service: Press Release |
Report
