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Advice NI Update Spring Statement 2025

Government does not ‘come back for more’  from social security benefit claimants, the truth is that there is no more to take

Following cuts estimated to amount to £5billion announced last week in the ‘Pathways to Work’ Green paper, it was rumoured that the Chancellor in the Spring Statement today would heap further misery on vulnerable, low-income families and people with disabilities reliant on social security.

Kevin Higgins, Head of Policy Advice NI said:

“Our position is very clear. Having endured over a decade of social security cuts and freezes under the thin veil of welfare reform, we are once again seeing need fall victim to financial expediency. Despite no additional social security cuts in the Spring Statement, the Government has already set out a raft of cuts amounting to £5billion primarily affecting people with disabilities. 

Advice NI calls on Government to stop this attack on social security benefit claimants; stop abusing and exploiting vulnerable sick and disabled people. We call on anyone who is worried about how these announcements might affect them to get help from the independent advice network – either your local advice provider or contact Advice NI.”

Announcements made last week at the launch of the ‘Pathways to Work’ Green Paper include:

  • Scrapping the work capability assessment with effect from 2028, instead linking the universal credit health element to eligibility for PIP;
  • Reintroducing reassessments for people on incapacity benefits who have the capability to work to ensure they have the right support;
  • Targeting Personal Independence Payments (PIP) for those with higher needs by changing the eligibility requirement to a minimum score of four on at least one of the daily living activities to receive the daily living element of the benefit, in addition to the existing eligibility criteria.
  • 'Rebalancing' payment levels in universal credit by freezing the value of the health element for existing claimants until 2029/2030 and reducing it (and freezing it) for new claimants, while providing for an above-inflation increase in the standard allowance and an additional premium for those with the 'most severe, life-long health conditions';
  • Delaying young people's access to the health element of universal credit until they are aged 22 on the basis that the savings generated could be reinvested into work support and training opportunities;
  • Ending the indefinite entitlement to contributory ESA for those assessed as having limited capability for work-related activity (for new people claiming);

END

NOTES

  1. Local help and support Local Advice | Advice NI
  2. Advice NI Welcome to Advice NI | Advice NI
  3. Pathways to Work Green paper Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working Green Paper - GOV.UK