Minister to soften disability benefit shake-up

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall is making changes to her package of welfare reforms in an attempt to reassure Labour MPs who are considering rebelling against the plans.

Kendall has tried to soften the impact of planned benefits cuts worth £5bn a year by 2030 before MPs vote on the government’s welfare changes.

The welfare reform bill will include proposals to make it harder for disabled people with less severe conditions to claim personal independence payment (Pip).

The BBC has been told anybody who loses Pip will receive the payment for a transitional period of 13 weeks, rather than the usual four weeks, before it is removed.

Carer’s allowance will continue to be paid during the 13-week transition, but will be ended when Pip is taken away.

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