Calls for Disability Benefit Reforms Amid Rising Costs
The UK's disability benefit system is under renewed scrutiny as the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee reports that annual spending has surged to £64.7 billion, exceeding defence expenditures by 20%. The committee, chaired by George Bridges, attributes this rise to an increase of 1.2 million health-related benefit recipients since the pandemic and suggests that current incentives may encourage long-term benefit dependency. Recommendations include implementing stricter medical assessments to ensure support reaches those most in need. source: Reuters Article: "UK Lords call for action as disability bill tops defence spending" https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/uk-lords-call-action-disability-bill-tops-defence-spending-2025-01-20/ Concurrently, the High Court has deemed recent reductions in incapacity benefits unlawful, citing an inadequate consultation process that failed to transparently address the impact on disabled individuals. This ruling challenges the governm...