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Concessions offered over disability benefit changes Concessions offered over disability benefit changes
(about 2 hours later)
Ministers are set to make concessions over controversial proposed changes to disability benefits. Ministers are set to make further concessions over controversial proposed changes to disability benefits.
The government is backing an amendment to the Welfare Reform Bill halving the time seriously ill or disabled people will have to wait to be eligible for Personal Independence Payments (PIPs). The government have agreed to halve the time seriously ill or disabled people will have to wait to be eligible for Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) from six to three months.
This would reduce the qualifying period for the benefit from six to three months. The move came after peers defeated the coalition over other welfare changes.
It comes after peers defeated the coalition over other welfare changes. No 10 said the government had listened to disability groups' concerns but campaigners wanted further changes.
The government was defeated three times in the House of Lords last week over proposed changes to eligibility for employment support allowance (ESA), formerly known as incapacity benefit, although ministers have vowed to press on with the proposals.
Peers are currently debating the government's welfare bill, one of its flagship pieces of legislation, which ministers want to become law by the end of parliamentary session in May.Peers are currently debating the government's welfare bill, one of its flagship pieces of legislation, which ministers want to become law by the end of parliamentary session in May.
Peers are due to discuss proposed changes to PIPs - which are replacing the longstanding disability living allowance (DLA) - on Tuesday. Ministers say the changes will substantially reduce the multi-billion pound welfare bill - helping to cut the deficit - while also increasing incentives to work and targeting support for the vulnerable more effectively.
Travel costs But the government was defeated three times in the House of Lords last week over proposed changes to eligibility for employment support allowance (ESA), formerly known as incapacity benefit.
Under current proposals, the qualifying time for the benefit would be extended from three months to six. And ministers are set to come under further pressure when peers discuss changes to disability benefits on Tuesday.
Lords pressure
Under current proposals, the qualifying time for PIPs - which are replacing the longstanding disability living allowance (DLA) - would be extended from three months to six.
But it emerged on Monday that Welfare Reform Minister Lord Freud has added his name to an amendment tabled by other peers that would revert the waiting period back to three months.But it emerged on Monday that Welfare Reform Minister Lord Freud has added his name to an amendment tabled by other peers that would revert the waiting period back to three months.
In a further apparent climbdown, another amendment tabled by Lord Freud removes a clause that would have prevented disabled people living in care homes receiving a payment to help with their travel and transport costs. Lord Freud has tabled another amendment removing a clause that would have prevented disabled people living in care homes receiving a payment - worth £51 a week - to help with their travel and transport costs.
However, the mobility component of PIPs will still not be paid to people in hospital. Ministers first signalled a U-turn on this policy in December. However, the mobility component of PIPs will still not be paid to people receiving treatment in hospital.
All 3.2 million people receiving DLA at the moment, both those in work and out of work, are due to be reassessed.All 3.2 million people receiving DLA at the moment, both those in work and out of work, are due to be reassessed.
Ministers have insisted the benefit, introduced in 1992 to help disabled people cope with the extra costs they face in their daily lives, is complicated and inconsistent and needs to be simplified.Ministers have insisted the benefit, introduced in 1992 to help disabled people cope with the extra costs they face in their daily lives, is complicated and inconsistent and needs to be simplified.
While remaining a non means-tested cash payment, ministers say PIPs will be easier to apply for and administer. While the PIPS remain a non means-tested cash payment, ministers say they will be easier to apply for and administer.
'Big changes'
The government says spending on DLA has risen by 30% in the past eight years and, even after the changes, projected spending in 2015-2016 would be equivalent to levels in 2009-2010.The government says spending on DLA has risen by 30% in the past eight years and, even after the changes, projected spending in 2015-2016 would be equivalent to levels in 2009-2010.
But campaigners have warned that many vulnerable people would have less to spend on basic items like food, fuel and transport if the changes go through. Downing Street said the government had listened to concerns about aspects of its proposals but would continue with its central objective of reducing welfare spending.
"We are making some big changes to welfare policy and you would expect us to have discussions with the groups that are affected by these changes," a No 10 spokesman said.
"But the fundamental point remains that we have a very, very big welfare bill and we need to bring it down and implement the policy that we have set out."
Campaigners have warned the changes mean many vulnerable people would have less to spend on basic items like food, fuel and transport and have called for a "pause" in the process pending further consultation.
Disability charity The Papworth Trust said they welcomed the rethink over the initial qualifying period.
But they said they were worried that people would now have to demonstrate they were likely to be afflicted for a further nine months - rather than six - to continue receiving the benefit.
"We believe it will be difficult for a disabled person or the new PIP assessment process to predict that they will be affected for nine months, especially for fluctuating conditions such as Crohn's Disease," said Matthew Lester, the charity's director of operations.
"This change to nine months means more disabled people will be unable to get financial support when they need it most, and risks pushing more people into poverty unfairly."