Access to Work: cuts to support putting employment out of reach
Today, a public consultation closes on one of the existing programmes of funding reasonable adjustments in the workplace.
But as Shani Dhanda, a disability campaigner and journalist has been finding out, many claimants of the Access to Work grant have already been experiencing cuts to their support, putting employment out of reach.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The National
an hour ago
- The National
Anas Sarwar backs Labour welfare cuts but insists they wouldn't do same Scotland
The Scottish Labour leader claimed it is 'factually wrong' to say people will have their benefits 'cut' under measures proposed by Keir Starmer's government, because the overall welfare budget is still set to rise. Sarwar added that Labour are now in a 'much better place on welfare reform than a week ago', before they scaled back proposals to avoid a defeat in the House of Commons on Tuesday evening. Last week, more than 120 Labour MPs signed a 'reasoned amendment' to the Universal Credit and Personal Independent Payment Bill after it was revealed it would cut around £5 billion per year from disability benefits. READ MORE: Scots back independence as Keir Starmer's popularity at record low, new poll finds Ministers hope a partial U-turn by Starmer on the plans, which will protect existing claimants of personal independence payments (Pip) and the health element of Universal Credit, will be enough to win over Labour rebels. However, not all of the changes will directly impact people in Scotland as Pip is being replaced by the Adult Disability Payment. The Scottish Government has promised not to make similar cuts in Scotland, with the Social Justice Secretary warning that even the Prime Minister's concessions do not go far enough. Shirley-Anne Somerville called on Labour to scrap all of their proposals, pointing to the UK Government's own analysis which shows they could plunge 150,000 people into poverty. Sarwar has argued that the figure did not take into account other Labour measures to help people get back into work, or economic policies. Asked if he would cut benefits for disabled people in Scotland if he wins next year's Holyrood election, he told the PA news agency: 'No, absolutely not'. The Scottish Labour leader insisted his party is 'on the same wavelength' and agrees that reforms to the welfare system are needed. But he said claims that benefits are being cut are not true, as the welfare bill is still set to grow. 'We all accept the principle of reform,' Sarwar said. He added: 'We all accept that we have to prioritise work, and that work is the best route of poverty. 'We all accept that. Those that can work should work. 'We also all accept that those who can't work should get the support they need, and also accept those that need support to get into work should get that support too.' Responding to Sarwar's claims SNP MSP Colette Stevenson said the Scottish Labour leader wouldn't stand up for Scotland and would "rubber stamp anything his Westminster bosses tell him to". She said: "When Keir Starmer proposes cutting support for disabled people, it's Anas Sarwar who stands by him every step of the way. "From the Winter Fuel debacle, to failing the WASPI women, to supporting the two-child cap, to backing cuts to disability payments, Labour's record in one short year says it all. "SNP-run Scotland is the only part of the UK where child poverty is going down rather than up, we're scrapping the two-child cap, and we're protecting disabled people by maintaining the Adult Disability Payment here in Scotland, rather than passing on Labour's proposed cuts in England. "Anas Sarwar has proven he won't stand up to Starmer - he'll rubber stamp anything his Westminster bosses tell him to."
North Wales Chronicle
4 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Starmer ditches Pip benefit reforms in face of Labour revolt
In a late climbdown as MPs prepared to vote, the Government shelved plans to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip), with any changes now only coming after a review of the benefit. The move will cause a headache for Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who has seen a forecast £4.8 billion saving from the welfare budget whittled away through a series of concessions, leaving her to seek extra money through spending cuts, tax hikes or borrowing to balance the books. The Resolution Foundation's chief executive Ruth Curtice said the concessions meant the reforms would now make no 'net savings' in 2029/30 – a key year for Ms Reeves's fiscal targets – even if they did reduce costs in the longer term. The decision to remove the Pip changes from the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill was announced just 90 minutes before MPs voted on Tuesday night. The legislation cleared its first hurdle by 335 votes to 260, majority 75. Despite the late concession, there were 49 Labour rebels, the largest revolt so far of Sir Keir's premiership. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall insisted the Labour Party was '100%' behind the Prime Minister, but acknowledged there were 'lessons to be learned' after the rebellion. She also appeared to express regret over the handling of the issue, saying: 'I wish we had got to this point in a different way.' But Ms Kendall also insisted it was 'really important we passed this Bill', saying: 'We need to make changes, because too many people have been written off, are left to a life on benefits, when being in good work is so important.' The decision to remove key parts of the Bill is remarkable for a Government with a working majority of 165 and after just under a year in office. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused ministers of 'utter capitulation' and said the legislation was now 'pointless'. She said: 'They should bin it, do their homework, and come back with something serious. Starmer cannot govern.' Earlier, a Labour rebel attempt to halt the legislation was defeated by 179 votes. A total of 44 Labour MPs including two tellers backed the bid by rebel ringleader Rachael Maskell, who described the Bill as 'unravelling' and 'a complete farce'. A previous effort to kill the Bill had attracted more than 120 Labour supporters, but was dropped after the first partial U-turn on the legislation last week, which restricted the Pip changes to new claimants from November 2026. That date has now been abandoned in the latest climbdown, with any changes now only coming after disability minister Sir Stephen Timms' review of the Pip assessment process. Sir Stephen announced the climbdown in the middle of the debate on the legislation. He acknowledged 'concerns that the changes to Pip are coming ahead of the conclusions of the review of the assessment that I will be leading'. He said the Government would now 'only make changes to Pip eligibility activities and descriptors following that review', which is due to conclude in the autumn of 2026. The concession came after frantic behind-the-scenes negotiations in Westminster involving the Prime Minister, his Cabinet and wavering Labour MPs. Charlotte Gill, head of campaigns and public affairs at the MS Society, said: 'We thought last week's so-called concessions were last minute. But these panicked 11th hour changes still don't fix a rushed, poorly thought-out Bill.' But Jon Sparkes, chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap, said: 'The last-minute change relating to the review Sir Stephen Timms is leading sounds positive and we are pleased that the Government has listened.' He added: 'Disabled people should not have to pay to fix black holes in the public finances.' The Government's concessions have gutted the reforms, leaving only parts of the current Bill still on the table. Proposals to cut the health element of universal credit by almost 50% for most new claimants from April 2026 remain in place, along with an above-inflation increase in the benefit's standard allowance. In an earlier climbdown, Work and Pensions Secretary Ms Kendall said existing recipients of the health element of universal credit, and new claimants with the most severe conditions, would have their incomes 'fully protected in real terms'.
South Wales Guardian
4 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Starmer ditches Pip benefit reforms in face of Labour revolt
In a late climbdown as MPs prepared to vote, the Government shelved plans to restrict eligibility for the personal independence payment (Pip), with any changes now only coming after a review of the benefit. The move will cause a headache for Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who has seen a forecast £4.8 billion saving from the welfare budget whittled away through a series of concessions, leaving her to seek extra money through spending cuts, tax hikes or borrowing to balance the books. The Resolution Foundation's chief executive Ruth Curtice said the concessions meant the reforms would now make no 'net savings' in 2029/30 – a key year for Ms Reeves's fiscal targets – even if they did reduce costs in the longer term. The decision to remove the Pip changes from the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill was announced just 90 minutes before MPs voted on Tuesday night. The legislation cleared its first hurdle by 335 votes to 260, majority 75. Despite the late concession, there were 49 Labour rebels, the largest revolt so far of Sir Keir's premiership. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall insisted the Labour Party was '100%' behind the Prime Minister, but acknowledged there were 'lessons to be learned' after the rebellion. She also appeared to express regret over the handling of the issue, saying: 'I wish we had got to this point in a different way.' But Ms Kendall also insisted it was 'really important we passed this Bill', saying: 'We need to make changes, because too many people have been written off, are left to a life on benefits, when being in good work is so important.' The decision to remove key parts of the Bill is remarkable for a Government with a working majority of 165 and after just under a year in office. Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accused ministers of 'utter capitulation' and said the legislation was now 'pointless'. She said: 'They should bin it, do their homework, and come back with something serious. Starmer cannot govern.' Earlier, a Labour rebel attempt to halt the legislation was defeated by 179 votes. A total of 44 Labour MPs including two tellers backed the bid by rebel ringleader Rachael Maskell, who described the Bill as 'unravelling' and 'a complete farce'. A previous effort to kill the Bill had attracted more than 120 Labour supporters, but was dropped after the first partial U-turn on the legislation last week, which restricted the Pip changes to new claimants from November 2026. That date has now been abandoned in the latest climbdown, with any changes now only coming after disability minister Sir Stephen Timms' review of the Pip assessment process. Sir Stephen announced the climbdown in the middle of the debate on the legislation. He acknowledged 'concerns that the changes to Pip are coming ahead of the conclusions of the review of the assessment that I will be leading'. He said the Government would now 'only make changes to Pip eligibility activities and descriptors following that review', which is due to conclude in the autumn of 2026. The concession came after frantic behind-the-scenes negotiations in Westminster involving the Prime Minister, his Cabinet and wavering Labour MPs. Charlotte Gill, head of campaigns and public affairs at the MS Society, said: 'We thought last week's so-called concessions were last minute. But these panicked 11th hour changes still don't fix a rushed, poorly thought-out Bill.' But Jon Sparkes, chief executive of learning disability charity Mencap, said: 'The last-minute change relating to the review Sir Stephen Timms is leading sounds positive and we are pleased that the Government has listened.' He added: 'Disabled people should not have to pay to fix black holes in the public finances.' The Government's concessions have gutted the reforms, leaving only parts of the current Bill still on the table. Proposals to cut the health element of universal credit by almost 50% for most new claimants from April 2026 remain in place, along with an above-inflation increase in the benefit's standard allowance. In an earlier climbdown, Work and Pensions Secretary Ms Kendall said existing recipients of the health element of universal credit, and new claimants with the most severe conditions, would have their incomes 'fully protected in real terms'.
