Andy Burnham has provided an update regarding the proposed changes to welfare benefits, specifically Personal Independence Payments (PIP), the main disability benefit in the UK.
With the Prime Minister facing increasing pressure to reduce the welfare expenditure, a review of PIP is currently underway, with anticipated cuts expected. The review, set to present its findings to the Government in November, highlights the possibility of restricting payments for conditions such as depression and anxiety. These conditions have seen a significant rise in claims over recent years, particularly among young adults.
However, recent reports suggest that any substantial changes to disability benefits may be delayed until 2027.
During his initial participation at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Burnham acknowledged the importance of lowering the welfare bill. He emphasised the need for enhanced support for young adults in employment, education, or training.
In the House of Commons, the Prime Minister stated, “I was quite clear in my statement on Tuesday about the need to get the welfare bill down. I do not want to see a situation where so many people in their 20s are not in education, employment or training. I can’t defend that.”
He added, “I want to change this by providing more support to young people, investing in their success rather than paying for failure, as has occurred under successive governments for many years.”
Burnham also expressed a willingness to collaborate on this issue, saying, “This is an area where we can engage in problem-solving rather than point scoring, and I hope the right honourable lady (Kemi Badenoch) will take up my offer to work together on this matter.”