Rachel Reeves Unveils Plan to Slash DWP Sickness Benefits ‘Within Weeks’ in Bold Welfare Reform Move!

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced plans to cut sickness benefits as part of a major reform to the welfare system. Her goal is to reduce the number of people claiming benefits for being too ill to work, saying the country can no longer afford to support what she calls a “jobless Britain.”

Speaking about her plans, Reeves pointed out that 2.8 million people in the UK are currently out of work due to health problems, and projections show another 420,000 households could be relying on Universal Credit by 2030.

While the specific benefits that will be affected haven’t been fully explained, there has already been debate about Personal Independence Payments (PIP), which provide financial help for those with disabilities or long-term health conditions.

Last year, former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suggested replacing cash payments for PIP with vouchers, sparking criticism.

To tackle what she describes as a growing problem, Reeves has introduced the Get Britain Working White Paper. This plan aims to shift the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) from focusing on welfare to emphasizing work opportunities. She stated, “We cannot keep paying for the increasing number of people out of work. The system must change.”

One of the key parts of her plan is cracking down on fraud and errors in the welfare system. Reeves announced several tough measures targeting people who cheat the system, such as revoking driving licenses and automatically taking money from their bank accounts if they refuse to pay back fraudulently claimed benefits. She said these changes would make it harder for anyone to defraud taxpayers and get away with it.

To support this effort, the government will introduce the *Public Authorities (Fraud, Error & Recovery) Bill*. This legislation will give officials new powers to fight fraud and recover stolen money, which the government says could save £1.5 million over the next five years.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, backed the reforms, saying they are designed to stop criminals from stealing money from hardworking taxpayers. She emphasized that these new powers will come with strict safeguards, such as oversight and reporting systems, to ensure they are used fairly.

Kendall added, “We’re taking strong action to protect taxpayers and make sure the welfare system is fair. Fraudsters who abuse the system will face real consequences, including losing their driving license and, in serious cases, having their bank accounts accessed to recover the stolen money.”

The government is promoting this initiative as part of a broader effort to ensure public funds are spent wisely and that benefits are provided to those who truly need them. Reeves and her team are positioning this as a bold step to reform the welfare system and reduce the financial burden on taxpayers while promoting accountability and fairness.