We’re benefits claimants – Reeves’s brutal Spring Statement will destroy lives

7 comments

1. Making [cuts to sickness and disability benefits ](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/7-predictions-for-the-cuts-reeves-could-make-in-spring-statement-including-pip-3582416?ico=in-line_link)and tightening eligibility rules will “destroy the lives” of those in genuine need and lead to [food banks ](https://inews.co.uk/news/i-had-a-dream-retirement-plan-now-im-raising-grandchildren-and-used-food-banks-3530349?ico=in-line_link)becoming overwhelmed, [benefits ](https://inews.co.uk/topic/benefits?ico=in-line_link)claimants have warned.

   [Rachel Reeves ](https://inews.co.uk/topic/rachel-reeves?ico=in-line_link)is set to deliver her [Spring Statement](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/7-predictions-for-the-cuts-reeves-could-make-in-spring-statement-including-pip-3582416?ico=in-line_link) to Parliament on Wednesday.

   The Chancellor has said the statement will not be a “tax and spend” event. However, spending cuts are expected as reports suggest that weak growth and high borrowing costs may have already wiped out the Government’s £9.9bn in fiscal headroom.

   The Government is expected to reduce spending by billions of pounds in what have been described as the[ biggest cuts ](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/tax-hikes-spring-statement-benefit-cuts-3594720?ico=in-line_link)since [austerity](https://inews.co.uk/topic/austerity?srsltid=AfmBOorxoynAsp4WsP4NgJp5Z4pipnpi–eJ3Ewi8BnDiK5A0rtOVhw0&ico=in-line_link).

   Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall announced around £5bn in [cuts to sickness and disability benefits](https://inews.co.uk/news/politics/all-benefits-changes-announced-liz-kendall-affect-you-3591048?ico=in-line_link) last week in a Green Paper outlining reforms.

   However, many of the key details were missing, including where exactly the savings will be made.

   It is expected the bulk of cuts will come from tightening eligibility for [personal independence payments (PIP)](https://inews.co.uk/news/pip-labour-benefits-cuts-destroy-independence-3587373?ico=in-line_link) – a key [disability benefit](https://inews.co.uk/topic/disability-benefits?srsltid=AfmBOor_C2uiVn0x3IttHEabwCtlJMTl7DeOghnMVkJ2LUF9r2JPJV6l&ico=in-line_link).

   The Government also failed to set out how many people this would affect last week and insisted details will be revealed at the Spring Statement.

2. If you replaced handing out direct financial payments for conditions like ADHD or anxiety with free mental health counselling and group therapy and things like that, and watch the numbers making those sorts of claims absolutely plummet down to the people who really need help.

   PIP was _originally_ intended to help severely disabled people buy specialist equipment or make necessary modifications to their homes due to physical disabilities.

   Most people struggling with genuine mental health issues would benefit more from support aimed at recovery, like therapy, skills training, or improved access to resources – this is what we should be funding (and it would get rid of all the people who are making spurious claims just for the free money)

3. Easy times are over. Pull your weight or ask your friends/family for help. That’s how it works in most of the world.

4. If PIP is already denied to someone with 4% kidney function or severe brain problems, then what is a ‘more stringent’ system going to look like? Do we actually have an unseen mass of people on PIP who do not need to be, or is the entire thing various genuinely disabled individuals assuming that other individuals on PIP might not be genuine?

   I haven’t really seen convincing cases of ‘someone who doesn’t need PIP’ yet, despite a few such stories in the papers. I’ve read about individuals with PTSD or severe autism, and I’ve read commenters insisting that these issues are not really an impediment to working. I remain unconvinced.

5. Funny thing is all are probably Labour voters

6. Indeed it’s more important for Starmer to gift 8 billion to Zelinski than to provide benefits for disabled.

7. All this bitching and moaning and the welfare bill is still set to increase overall ffs.

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