DWP reforms address broken system, but rush for savings will harm some vulnerable people, says IPPR

Reacting to the DWP green paper, Avnee Morjaria, associate director for public services at IPPR, said:  

“The number of people claiming health-related benefits is unsustainable. The current system is a national scandal – it fails to support people into work, locks them into welfare indefinitely, and costs the taxpayer billions of pounds a year, with costs continuing to rise. The government is right to address this broken system, and by focusing on supportive measures it can help those who are able to work to do so, enable people off benefits and save the taxpayer billions over time.  

“However, the growing number of people on incapacity and disability benefits is a symptom of deeper issues – huge NHS waiting lists, rising numbers of mental health conditions and cuts in other parts of the benefit system.

“The government is clearly trying to ensure its welfare reforms deliver the right support and incentives for those who can work to do so. But announcing changes in a rush to deliver savings will harm vulnerable people, many of whom depend on this support to live a good life in difficult circumstances.”