What happened: From April, new universal credit claimants with severe illnesses or disabilities will receive reduced payments unless their condition is classified as terminal or lifelong with no chance of improvement. Charities warn this will affect many whose conditions may improve over time but still cause significant hardship.
Why it matters:
- Hundreds of thousands of disabled people may lose vital financial support.
- Stricter criteria could leave those with fluctuating or non-permanent conditions with less help.
MNN Take: The government is tightening rules on the health element of universal credit, reducing payments for many disabled claimants unless their condition is deemed permanent or terminal. This change aims to focus support on the most severely affected but raises concerns about those with variable conditions.
Sources: Guardian UK