Changes to the benefits system and what it means for people with cancer
The benefits reform Green Paper
You can read the Green Paper about changes to the benefits on the GOV.UK website. The Disabled People’s Organisations in England (DPO Forum) have also published an explainer of the Green Paper on their website.
We understand that people living with cancer who have heard about this Green Paper in the news may be worried about what this means for them. In this blog, we answer some of the common questions that people might have about these potential changes.
What is being proposed in the Pathways to Work Green Paper?
The Green Paper proposes significant changes to the benefits system for people with disabilities and health conditions such as cancer. Here is a summary of some of the changes included in the consultation.Work Capability Assessment (WCA)
A WCA is used to assess how much someone's health condition affects their ability to work, influencing their eligibility for benefits. These will be scrapped in 2028.
In the current system, people who are having certain types of cancer treatment are classed as having a Limited Capability for Work and Work-related Activity (LCWRA). LCWRA is an additional element that is added to your Universal Credit payment. This will change when it is a PIP assessment instead of a WCA. People will then only be able to receive an additional ‘health element’ to their payment if they pass the PIP assessment.
Universal Credit
The changes to Universal Credit in the Green Paper include the introduction of a new disability payment. This would be available to people who are on the new lower rate of the health payment, but only to people who have “the most severe, life-long health conditions", with “no prospect of improvement and will never be able to work”. It will also not be available to people who are aged under 22.
Universal Credit will also change once the WCA has been scrapped, with people no longer receiving a LCWRA element to their Universal Credit payment. They will only be able to receive an additional ‘health element’ if they pass the PIP assessment. If someone is already receiving the LCWRA payment, they will continue to receive it, but the amount will be frozen.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
The Green Paper includes changes to how PIP is assessed. PIP has 2 parts, a daily living component and a mobility component. The daily living component assesses someone’s ability to do everyday activities, such as eating and drinking, washing and bathing, and taking medicines. Points are awarded for the degree of difficulty someone has with each activity. In the current system, if the total across all activities is more than 8 points, the person would qualify for PIP. In the proposed changes, the person being assessed would still need to score at least 8 points, but one of the activities would need to score 4 points or more.
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
The Green Paper includes plans to merge ESA and JSA into a new benefit called Unemployment Insurance. This would be a time-limited benefit paid at a set rate that is the current higher rate of ESA.
The Government is not consulting on the proposed changes to PIP and WCA in the consultation. However, legislation would need to be voted on by MPs and pass in Parliament for these changes to happen.
How to share feedback on the proposed changes
If you would like to share your feedback about the changes that are being consulted on, there is information about how you can do this on the GOV.UK website.
I’m worried about money. What support is available?
We know cancer can be tough on your finances. If you’re worried about money, there is support available. We have information about benefits and financial support, as well as help with money and work.
You can also speak to a Macmillan money adviser. They are available Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. To speak to someone:
- Call the Macmillan Support Line for free on 0808 808 00 00
- Chat to a specialist online
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