A BENEFITS bill crackdown is set to be watered down despite a senior Cabinet Minister warning the system is “unsustainable”.
A backlash by Labour MPs will see the government abandon a freeze to some disability benefits when welfare reforms are announced tomorrow.
Wes Streeting revealed 1,000 people apply every day for Personal Independence Payments — and the system was becoming unsustainable[/caption]
The humiliating about-turn comes after deputy PM Angela Rayner and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband both raised concerns about the proposed cuts of £5billion.
But Health Secretary Wes Streeting revealed 1,000 people apply every day for Personal Independence Payments — and the system was becoming unsustainable, unaffordable and at risk of losing public support.
He added: “We’ve got to reform the system in order to make sure it’s still there for people as a safety net but also a springboard back to work.
“For those people who can work, want to work, the system has got to support them to get back to work.”
Speculation has grown PIP, the main benefit for working-age adults, could be frozen rather than increased with inflation which would hit 3.6million people in the pocket.
However, eligibility rules for claiming it could be toughened up.
But Welfare Secretary Liz Kendall is poised to unveil plans including cutting the top rate of incapacity benefit.
At present, those deemed unfit to work are paid £800 each month which is double that of job-seekers.
Mr Streeting also told the BBC of his concerns on the handling of the treatment of mental health conditions.
He said: “Here’s the other thing, mental wellbeing, illness, it’s a spectrum and I think definitely there’s an overdiagnosis but there’s too many people being written off.”
