BENEFITS paid to four million people are not fit for purpose — with the bill set to double to £45billion, a Government review has concluded.
A probe into Personal Independence Payment (PIP) found it hinders those seeking work and does not offer a fair deal to taxpayers.
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Benefits paid to four million people are not fit for purpose — with the bill set to double to £45billion Credit: Alamy
The report by Social Security Minister Sir Stephen Timms declared the system “is not working as intended” Credit: Richard Townshend Photography
PIP is designed to help with everyday tasks and extra living costs if individuals have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability.
But the report by Social Security Minister Sir Stephen Timms declared the system “is not working as intended and needs fundamental change”.
Sir Keir Starmer launched the review after a Labour backbench rebellion stopped him cutting the ballooning benefits bill by £5billion.
The number of people claiming PIP has doubled since 2019 to four million in England and Wales.
NO BENEFIT
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And the bill is forecast to rise from £26billion last year to £45billion by 2031.
Shadow Welfare Secretary Helen Whately said: “Labour is in denial about the welfare state. They have at last admitted it is broken — but what they mean is it’s too hard to get benefits and not generous enough.
“They couldn’t be more wrong. It does nothing to tackle abuse of the system.”
Sir Keir insisted reform of Universal Credit and a youth work guarantee would help.
