PIP reforms are in doubt as the Labor Party postpones its decision until the election

The future of disability pension reform hangs in the balance as Labor will wait until the election to make a decision on the matter, AND Understands.

A government consultation on reforming disability benefits – known as personal independent benefits (PIP) – is due to end five days after the start of the next parliament.

The Labor Party has no plans to abolish consultations and, if elected, will check what social policy it will inherit from the Tories before making any decisions. AND he learned.

In a speech at a campaign event in Amersham, Rishi Sunak denied that his welfare reform plans to reduce the number of sick and disabled people out of work were dead.

“It has always been the case that these reforms required legislation,” Sunak told reporters. “And you can expect the future Conservative government under my leadership to continue to do so.”

“Again, this is an example of my willingness to take bold action,” he added. “These welfare reforms are an example of that. I am ready to do something brave, I will stick to this plan, although of course people will want to criticize it, because I think it is the right decision.

The government announced plans to review PIP payments back in April and launched a consultation to find ways to reform them.

Options being considered include replacing cash payments with specific renovation services and introducing a tiered system so that only people with the most severe physical disabilities are eligible for full entitlement.

Sunak said he wanted to tackle the significant increase in the number of people being made redundant due to health problems.

Last week, Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves refused to back the Prime Minister’s efforts to tighten access to disability benefits, but did not specify what her party would do instead if it wins power.

I am talking with AND, she refused to say whether Labor would continue consultations and appeared to criticize Tory cuts to “job support”.

Instead, she highlighted Labour’s plan to reduce NHS waiting lists and make it easier for workers on benefits to take on extra hours without losing money.

Thomas Lawson, chief executive of anti-poverty charity Turn2us, said the next government had a chance to end a “punitive” approach to benefit rules and ensure benefit rates were in line with the cost of living.

“In the run-up to and after the election, we call on political leaders to listen to citizens’ experiences and design a compassionate and fair system that works for all,” Lawson said.

He added: “This must start by ensuring that benefits adequately cover basic living costs and abolishing ineffective measures such as the two-child limit and sanctions. The people of the UK want a system that supports and reassures anyone who is struggling to survive.”

Carol Vickers, who said she had been “traumatized” by having to make multiple PIP claims, urged Labor to set out its policy as soon as possible.

The 47-year-old operations manager, who suffers from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a severe degenerative joint disease and ADHD, is concerned about the Conservatives’ proposals.

“I am clear what the Conservatives want to do, but I would like to hear the other side of the Labor story,” she said AND. “It would be good to know what I was offered.”

Ms Vickers said she would like to see some reform of PIP after the election, pointing to changes made in Scotland where there is less reliance on face-to-face assessments and more on specialist medical advice.

“It is right to review the system because it is clearly not working at the moment,” she said. “The consequence of this is always that you are trying to get money that you are not entitled to. We need a system based on medical evidence.”

Katy Styles, a 55-year-old carer who supports her husband Mark, who suffers from motor neurone disease (MND), would like Labor to abandon the Tory proposals for PIP. She would like a different kind of reform.

“The changes introduced in Scotland seem very sensible,” she said. “Getting PIP shouldn’t be so difficult. The idea that the government should get more medical evidence before making a decision would be helpful.”

Ms Styles, from Canterbury, expressed concern about Ms Reeves’ comments regarding AND on Saturday, during which the shadow chancellor refused to say whether Labor would continue government consultations and talked about the need to put more people into work.

“PIP is not an unemployment benefit,” she said. “It may help people find work, but it supports the independence of people with disabilities. The way Rachel Reeves spoke a few days ago doesn’t make it clear – I hope Labor realizes that.”