Millions of Brits could have benefits CUT as Wes Streeting hints at Autumn Statement changes to fill £22b black hole --[Reported by Umva mag]

FUTURE cuts to working age benefits and tax rises have been hinted at by West Streeting as the government looks to plug a £22billion black hole. The Health Secretary says there are “choices” to be made at the Budget which could extend beyond just axing the winter fuel allowance for pensioners. Wes Streeting explains benefits cuts could extend beyond pensioners’ winter fuel cut The warning sign comes after the Chancellor Rachel Reeves has already warned of difficult decisions around welfare spending and public services. The Cabinet Minister said: “I can understand why there will be some pensioners sat there thinking, ‘Well, why us? And what about others?’” Speaking to the New Statesman, he added: “Well, there are other choices to come and these aren’t just Rachel’s choices to face up to, these are the choices of the whole government.” He also addressed concerns from party figures complaining about the doom and gloom messaging ahead of the Budget on October 30. Mr Streeting said: “I think people mistake honesty for gloominess. “It would be quite jarring if we were all skipping around Whitehall singing Sam Cooke’s A Change Is Gonna Come or D:Ream’s Things Can Only Better at the same as we’re dealing with a £22 billion black hole. “And making some tough choices which are really sticking in the throats of people, particularly on the winter fuel allowance.” Shadow Business Secretary Kevin Hollinrake today said: “Cuts to benefits for pensioners and tax increases for the rest of us. Not sure that this was the change people were hoping for.” Mr Streeting hit back, saying: “We are cleaning up the mess your Party left. “Like the cleaners coming in to remove the vomit and wine stains (and goodness knows what else) did in Number 10 after lockdown parties. “At least the drunks didn’t have the temerity to complain about them as they did it.” WORKING AGE BENEFITS WORKING age benefits provide financial supports to individuals and families who are of working age (typically 16 to state pension age) to help with living costs, housing, and specific needs related to health and childcare. There are a number of different types including Universal Credit, which consolidates several older benefits into a single monthly payment. Jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) offers temporary support for those actively seeking work. Employment and support allowance (ESA) is given to individuals unable to work due to illness or disability. Personal independence payments (PIP) provides extra cash support for those with long-term health conditions. Housing benefit offers rental assistance too. It comes after the Chancellor told The Sun in August that she wants to get more jobless Brits back into work as the £306 billion welfare bill is “out of control”. She has vowed to crackdown on benefits spending as the workless crisis puts the brakes on a booming economy. There are currently 9.4million economically inactive Brits with 2.8million who are long-term sick. BENEFIT EXPENDITURE The government is forecast to spend £305.6billion on the social security system in Great Britain in the current financial year. Total welfare spending is forecast to be 11% of GDP and 24.9% of the total amount the government spends in 2024 to 2025. Around 55% of social security expenditure goes to pensioners. This includes spending on the State Pension which is forecast to be £138.1 billion in 2024 to 2025. The government is expected to spend £138billion on working age and children welfare. This includes spending on Universal Credit and its predecessors, and non-DWP welfare including child benefit. A further £89billion will be spent on benefits to support disabled people and people with health conditions, and £35.3billion on housing benefits. The Labour Party has previously said that it wants to “review” Universal Credit, the all-encompassing system replacing old legacy style benefits. But so far the party hasn’t given any specifics on what will change. It has also said it will develop an “ambitious strategy” to reduce child poverty – but has not laid out how this will be enforced.

Sep 19, 2024 - 18:23

Millions of Brits could have benefits CUT as Wes Streeting hints at Autumn Statement changes to fill £22b black hole --[Reported by Umva mag]

FUTURE cuts to working age benefits and tax rises have been hinted at by West Streeting as the government looks to plug a £22billion black hole.

The Health Secretary says there are “choices” to be made at the Budget which could extend beyond just axing the winter fuel allowance for pensioners.

WALKOUT WORRY — Wes Streeting explains benefits cuts could extend beyond pensioners’ winter fuel cut

The warning sign comes after the Chancellor Rachel Reeves has already warned of difficult decisions around welfare spending and public services.

The Cabinet Minister said: “I can understand why there will be some pensioners sat there thinking, ‘Well, why us? And what about others?’”

Speaking to the New Statesman, he added: “Well, there are other choices to come and these aren’t just Rachel’s choices to face up to, these are the choices of the whole government.”

He also addressed concerns from party figures complaining about the doom and gloom messaging ahead of the Budget on October 30.

Mr Streeting said: “I think people mistake honesty for gloominess.

“It would be quite jarring if we were all skipping around Whitehall singing Sam Cooke’s A Change Is Gonna Come or D:Ream’s Things Can Only Better at the same as we’re dealing with a £22 billion black hole.

“And making some tough choices which are really sticking in the throats of people, particularly on the winter fuel allowance.”

Shadow Business Secretary Kevin Hollinrake today said: “Cuts to benefits for pensioners and tax increases for the rest of us. Not sure that this was the change people were hoping for.”

Mr Streeting hit back, saying: “We are cleaning up the mess your Party left.

“Like the cleaners coming in to remove the vomit and wine stains (and goodness knows what else) did in Number 10 after lockdown parties.

“At least the drunks didn’t have the temerity to complain about them as they did it.”

WORKING AGE BENEFITS

WORKING age benefits provide financial supports to individuals and families who are of working age (typically 16 to state pension age) to help with living costs, housing, and specific needs related to health and childcare.

There are a number of different types including Universal Credit, which consolidates several older benefits into a single monthly payment.

Jobseeker’s allowance (JSA) offers temporary support for those actively seeking work.

Employment and support allowance (ESA) is given to individuals unable to work due to illness or disability.

Personal independence payments (PIP) provides extra cash support for those with long-term health conditions.

Housing benefit offers rental assistance too.

It comes after the Chancellor told The Sun in August that she wants to get more jobless Brits back into work as the £306 billion welfare bill is “out of control”.

She has vowed to crackdown on benefits spending as the workless crisis puts the brakes on a booming economy.

There are currently 9.4million economically inactive Brits with 2.8million who are long-term sick.

BENEFIT EXPENDITURE

The government is forecast to spend £305.6billion on the social security system in Great Britain in the current financial year.

Total welfare spending is forecast to be 11% of GDP and 24.9% of the total amount the government spends in 2024 to 2025.

Around 55% of social security expenditure goes to pensioners.

This includes spending on the State Pension which is forecast to be £138.1 billion in 2024 to 2025.

The government is expected to spend £138billion on working age and children welfare.

This includes spending on Universal Credit and its predecessors, and non-DWP welfare including child benefit.

A further £89billion will be spent on benefits to support disabled people and people with health conditions, and £35.3billion on housing benefits.

The Labour Party has previously said that it wants to “review” Universal Credit, the all-encompassing system replacing old legacy style benefits.

But so far the party hasn’t given any specifics on what will change.

It has also said it will develop an “ambitious strategy” to reduce child poverty – but has not laid out how this will be enforced.

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