Think Tank Proposes Emergency Brake on Benefits

0:00On April 28th, a think tank linked to Tony Blair is pushing for an emergency break on health and disability benefits to slash the number of claimants. They want to create a new category for non-work limiting conditions, like mild depression, ADHD, anxiety, lower back pain, and some neurodevelopmental. Issues. I am. Instead of handing out cash, folks with these would get support to give back to work, and every claimant needs a proper diagnosis of front with regular. Claims are skyrocketing, with 1,000 people a day qualifying for these benefits. Spending on health and sickness support for working age adults is set to hit 78.1 billion pounds by 202930. Up. 15% from now. The government tried tightening rules last year, but backed off after pushback from its own MPs, and now a review led by a top minister is due later. This year. Experts are mixed, with a charity for learning disabilities calling the ideas deeply unhelpful

1:00and out of touch, saying it could trap people in. Poverty. But polling 4,000 adults shows 54% think the system is too easy to game, and doesn't push recovery enough. Experts argue keeping people on benefits long term hurts health, and the economy, more than helping. The think tank says these quick changes don't even need new laws and savings should fund better mental health treatment and job programs. No exact savings figures yet, but the focus is shifting folks from dependency to independence. Meanwhile, the government just cut universal credit health payments for new claimants by up to 50%, saving 1 billion pounds, and there. Open to considering this report while protecting those who truly can't work. This debates heating up as cost climb.