McFadden: Labour must stop just writing a cheque for benefit claimants
UK work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden has called for an end to simply paying benefits, urging more job support instead, especially for those with health conditions, as the government prepares welfare reforms.
Pat McFadden, the UK work and pensions secretary, has said the government must stop “simply writing a cheque” for health and disability benefit claimants and instead provide greater employment support. In an interview with the Guardian, he stressed that the government’s duty is not just to pay money but to help people change their situation.
During a visit to a jobcentre in south London, McFadden indicated that welfare reform could form the backbone of Labour’s response to two major government-commissioned reports. One is Alan Milburn’s report on youth worklessness, and the other is Stephen Timms’s review of disability benefits. Both reports are yet to be finalised, but their interim findings have already highlighted deep-rooted problems.
The Timms review’s interim report concluded that the personal independence payment (PIP), claimed by nearly 4 million people in England and Wales, was “not working” and called for radical overhaul. The Milburn review, in late May, urged a “whole system reset” involving welfare, schools, and employers to tackle the rise in young people not in work or education, now over a million.
McFadden, who commissioned both reviews, said work is under way on the government response and he has spoken to the education and health departments. His job, he said, is to produce a plan that changes the question from “what benefits are you entitled to?” to “how can we help you live the fullest life?”
This comes as the government grapples with tight public finances, including a rising welfare bill due to swelling health-related benefit caseloads and growing pressure to spend on defence. The change in leadership is also imminent, with Andy Burnham expected to become prime minister next week.
McFadden also highlighted the Pathways to Work scheme, which now supports 100,000 people on the highest level of health-related benefits, helping them gain confidence to engage in the jobs market. He noted that previously people were often “signed off and written off”, leading to isolation and depression, worsening their condition.
