Coco Khan

The aim was to simplify the system, but the rollout of universal credit hasn't been smooth and over a decade on, it's still not complete. It's also resulted in less money for many low-income earners. For example, the IFS found that poor families with children saw losses of 20% of their net income on average between 2010 and 2019 as a direct result of these reforms.

The aim was to simplify the system, but the rollout of universal credit hasn't been smooth and over a decade on, it's still not complete. It's also resulted in less money for many low-income earners. For example, the IFS found that poor families with children saw losses of 20% of their net income on average between 2010 and 2019 as a direct result of these reforms.

In addition to universal credit, the welfare reforms of 2012 introduced a new payment for disability support called personal independence payments or PIPs. This payment isn't means tested, but it is instead tested against a set of criteria to determine how much someone should receive.

In addition to universal credit, the welfare reforms of 2012 introduced a new payment for disability support called personal independence payments or PIPs. This payment isn't means tested, but it is instead tested against a set of criteria to determine how much someone should receive.

But as we'll dig into later, these changes, particularly for people with disabilities or long-term health conditions, have had devastating impacts. Now, let's quickly frame some of the costs here because it's at the heart of the new government's plan to reform the system. Benefits make up about 11% of the government's annual budgetary expenses.

But as we'll dig into later, these changes, particularly for people with disabilities or long-term health conditions, have had devastating impacts. Now, let's quickly frame some of the costs here because it's at the heart of the new government's plan to reform the system. Benefits make up about 11% of the government's annual budgetary expenses.

So in the fiscal year 2024 to 2025, the UK will spend £138 billion on welfare, £89 billion on support for disabled people and £35.3 billion on housing benefit. The support for disabled people is something of a fixed cost, but that £138 billion spent on welfare is what the government is trying to reduce.

So in the fiscal year 2024 to 2025, the UK will spend £138 billion on welfare, £89 billion on support for disabled people and £35.3 billion on housing benefit. The support for disabled people is something of a fixed cost, but that £138 billion spent on welfare is what the government is trying to reduce.

As we heard last week, the government is proposing further crackdowns on benefits fraud and simultaneously trying to get more people into work.

As we heard last week, the government is proposing further crackdowns on benefits fraud and simultaneously trying to get more people into work.

Thanks for having us. Thank you for being here. So I just want to kick off with trying to say something positive about benefits. I feel like the conversation we have around it is constantly in the negative. You know, it's always these horrible sweeping statements about people not working hard enough and taking other people's tax money.

Thanks for having us. Thank you for being here. So I just want to kick off with trying to say something positive about benefits. I feel like the conversation we have around it is constantly in the negative. You know, it's always these horrible sweeping statements about people not working hard enough and taking other people's tax money.

But I think that obscures the crucial job that benefits do and for such a large amount of people. You know, I always use myself as an example. You know, I grew up with just my mum, single parent, you know, migrant, didn't have a lot of money. She worked all the hours, but she needed help from the state. And it helped keep us afloat. It was never lots. We still felt poor. We still had to sacrifice.

But I think that obscures the crucial job that benefits do and for such a large amount of people. You know, I always use myself as an example. You know, I grew up with just my mum, single parent, you know, migrant, didn't have a lot of money. She worked all the hours, but she needed help from the state. And it helped keep us afloat. It was never lots. We still felt poor. We still had to sacrifice.

It was still stressful. But I don't think I'd be sitting here in front of you now having the privilege of interviewing you had we not had that little bit of help. So I guess my very first question is, let's think about the benefits of the system. So John, let's start with you. How important are these benefits to people with disabilities who you tend to represent?

It was still stressful. But I don't think I'd be sitting here in front of you now having the privilege of interviewing you had we not had that little bit of help. So I guess my very first question is, let's think about the benefits of the system. So John, let's start with you. How important are these benefits to people with disabilities who you tend to represent?

Carolyn, you're fighting for justice for people who had their benefits reduced or taken away. What does that look like for them when those benefits are reduced?

Carolyn, you're fighting for justice for people who had their benefits reduced or taken away. What does that look like for them when those benefits are reduced?

So John obviously you've written a whole book about Department for Work and Pensions it's Is this a new problem with them? Has it just in the last 10 years gotten terrible or has there always been underlying, you know, I think I might go so far as to say prejudices against certain groups and just a general meanness to people who are very vulnerable?

So John obviously you've written a whole book about Department for Work and Pensions it's Is this a new problem with them? Has it just in the last 10 years gotten terrible or has there always been underlying, you know, I think I might go so far as to say prejudices against certain groups and just a general meanness to people who are very vulnerable?