1. Government Plans for Universal Credit:
    • The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) plans to tighten the universal credit regime to drive people into work.
    • People with disabilities and mental health conditions could face benefit sanctions if they do not engage with the Jobcentre.
  2. Figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR):
    • Approximately 230,000 people with serious mobility problems preventing them from working may not receive additional universal credit by 2029.
    • An additional 141,000 people with mental health conditions are expected to miss out by 2029.
  3. Concerns Raised by Z2K:
    • Anti-poverty charity Z2K warns that denying support to these individuals could put them and others at “substantial risk of harm” if they are forced to meet conditions set by Jobcentre staff.
    • The impact will apply to new claims, not existing ones.
  4. Changes to Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) Element:
    • The LCWRA element in universal credit, currently worth £390.06 a month, is set to be replaced by a new health element.
    • The new health element will be available only to claimants also receiving personal independence payment (PIP).
  5. Removal of LCWRA ‘Mobilising Activity’ Element:
    • The government plans to remove the LCWRA ‘mobilising activity’ element awarded to universal credit claimants with severe mobility issues.
    • Claimants who struggle to work due to severe mobility issues may lose this specific element.
  6. DWP Response:
    • The DWP emphasizes the balance between welfare support and fairness to taxpayers.
    • Upcoming work capability assessment reforms aim to shift the focus to what people can do rather than what they can’t while maintaining protections for those with significant health conditions.
  7. Campaigner and Claimant Perspectives:
    • Campaigners argue that despite changes since the pandemic, employers are still not flexible enough, and many refuse to accommodate disabilities.
    • Specific case example of Justyna, supported through an appeal by Z2K, highlights concerns about the upcoming changes and potential impacts on new applicants.

In summary, the government’s plans to tighten the universal credit regime raise concerns about the potential exclusion of hundreds of thousands of people with disabilities and mental health conditions from financial support, risking benefit sanctions if they don’t engage with the Jobcentre. Campaigners emphasize the importance of a supportive approach for individuals facing health challenges.