Andy Burnham is facing a backlash from Labour MPs over proposals to take away a key disability benefit from young people.
asserted
Burnham → face → people
His ministers are developing welfare reforms that are likely to include removing the health element of Universal Credit from some under-25s.
asserted
that → develop → under-25s
Instead of cash payments worth £217 a month, claimants with less severe conditions would receive intensive support to get them into work including subsidised jobs and help with mental health problems.
asserted
claimants → receive → problems
The Government may also attempt to make major changes to the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) system following two long-awaited reviews.
uncertain
Government → attempt → reviews
But the Prime Minister will face opposition from his own backbenchers, just as a rebellion last year forced Sir Keir Starmer to abandon planned cuts to disability benefits and undermined his authority.
asserted
rebellion → face → authority
Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan, who lost the party whip for voting against the welfare bill, wrote on social media on Friday: ‘I wrote to Andy Burnham with Labour MPs last month warning against disability benefit cuts.
Andy Burnham being welcomed back to Westminster by Labour MPs in June
‘Changing eligibility doesn't change the reality of disability.
asserted
Changing → lose → disability
It just removes support.’
asserted
It → remove → support
He warned: ‘Getting your fingers burnt means learning the lesson.
asserted
fingers → warn → lesson
We shouldn't repeat Starmer's mistakes.’
asserted
We → repeat → mistakes
Rachael Maskell, who was also suspended after tabling a key amendment against the welfare bill last year, told the Daily Mail: ‘If young disabled people are living independently, then the health element to address the increased costs of disability will really impact those young people.’
asserted
element → suspend → people
She added: ‘I support the Government's mission in getting young disabled people into work, included supported work placements, including those with significant health and access needs, but we need to understand that if they cannot there must be an adequate safety net, as young disabled people must not be plunged into poverty.’
asserted
people → add → poverty
Chief Executive of mental health charity Mind Dr Sarah Hughes said: ‘With financial insecurity being one of the key drivers of poor mental health, any cuts to benefits could risk undermining people's health and wellbeing further.
uncertain
cuts → say → health
The Department for Work and Pensions said it would not pre-empt the findings of the review by Sir Stephen Timms into PIP and the separate report on Neets – young people not in education, employment or training – by former minister Alan Milburn.
asserted
it → say → Milburn
A spokesman insisted: ‘We will always ensure there is a safety net for the most vulnerable and those who are unable to work.’
asserted
who → insist → vulnerable
Former PM Keir Starmer (pictured) was forced into a dramatic U-turn by his own Labour MPs in July 2025 over plans to tighten Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments
The number of children claiming disability benefits has almost trebled in recent years, according to new research.
uncertain
number → picture → research
A report by Policy Exchange has found that 915,000 under-16s are now receiving Child Disability Living Allowance (DLA), compared with just 314,000 in 2010.
asserted
under-16s → find → 2010
Annual spending for the welfare payments stood at £5.3billion last year, up from £2.3bn in 2019-20, and is forecast to reach £8.3bn by the end of the decade.
asserted
spending → stand → decade
The think-tank said that the surge has been driven by new claims for mental health conditions, with 404,000 more since the pandemic.
uncertain
surge → say → pandemic
While claims for other conditions have declined, far more young people diagnosed with learning disabilities, ADHD and behavioural disorder are now receiving the cash support for help with care at home.
The analysis also found that awards for Child DLA are also becoming more generous to mental health claimants.
uncertain
awards → decline → claimants
Since Covid, the proportion receiving the highest care component – now worth £114.60 a week – has risen from 30.5 per cent to 42.4 per cent.
asserted
proportion → receive → cent
Children receiving the benefit for mental health conditions are also more likely to be given a ‘mobility component’, meant for those who have difficulty walking or need supervision outdoors, worth an extra £80 each week.
asserted
who → receive → supervision
Report co-author Jean-André Prager said: ‘Child DLA is now supporting a very different population from the one it was designed for.
asserted
it → say → one
‘Of course, disabled children deserve support.
asserted
children → deserve → support
But we need to make sure that support is reaching those with the greatest needs and ask whether some of this money could be used more effectively to provide earlier support for children and families.’
uncertain
some → need → children
Keir Haldane, Research Fellow at Policy Exchange, added: ‘The growth in Child DLA has been striking, both in the number of claimants and in the level of awards.’
asserted
growth → add → awards
It is the latest in a series of recent reports showing how the benefits bill has soared in recent years, piling pressure on the Government to take action.
asserted
bill → show → action
Policy Exchange said the Government could save £11.9bn over four years by restricting eligibility criteria for Child DLA.
uncertain
Government → say → DLA
The Department for Work and Pensions said: 'Child Disability Living Allowance exists to help with the extra costs of caring for a seriously ill or disabled child.
asserted
Allowance → say → child
We know there is a rising demand for Child DLA, which is why we have trained additional case managers to deal with these claims to a high standard.
uncertain
we → know → standard
'We have also outlined reforms to Special Educational Needs to ensure every child gets the right support early on, without a fight.
asserted
child → outline → fight
The Aporia
