UK Plans Welfare Reforms Targeting Long-Term Sick Benefits

The UK government is preparing significant reforms to the welfare system that could force long-term sick individuals to seek employment or see their benefits significantly reduced, potentially losing up to £5,000 a year. Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is aiming to eliminate the current system where over 2.4 million incapacity benefit claimants are not required to look for work, with specific focus on making it harder for those claiming due to mental health issues. The reforms are framed as necessary to control rising welfare costs and support those who want to work, with government sources emphasizing the need for a sustainable benefits system. Critics within the Labour party may oppose these changes, highlighting concerns about the impact on vulnerable populations. The proposed measures are part of a broader effort to address the escalating costs of disability support, which is projected to rise dramatically in the coming years. These developments indicate a shift in policy aimed at encouraging greater workforce participation among those currently reliant on long-term sickness benefits.