Robert Jenrick has outlined Reform UK's proposals to cut Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits, stating that cash support above standard Universal Credit rates will be "reserved" for two groups: severe cases and the most vulnerable. The announcement was made in the heart of Westminster, where Nigel Farage's Treasury spokesman set out the party's "war on welfare" and pledged massive cuts to the system.
Details of the Welfare Reforms
Mr Jenrick said: "Those who need additional help beyond living costs will receive it in-kind through disability support accounts, and the most vulnerable will continue to be supported through personal independence payments." He added that people unable to return to work will go through a single disability-needs assessment, replacing the more complicated existing system.
Mr Jenrick claimed Reform UK's plans to remove disability benefits from millions of people and almost all benefits from foreign nationals will save about £50bn in total. He warned that without these changes, the cost to the welfare system will rise further, culminating in what could be a "genuine national debt crisis".
Employer Responsibility and National Insurance
Mr Jenrick also detailed plans for employees signed off sick, stating: "For the first two years of an employee being signed off sick they will remain on their employer's books, receiving payments based on welfare rates." He explained that employer's national insurance contributions will be cut nationally to offset those costs, giving employers an incentive to look after their workers and help them back into work, rather than passing the bill to the taxpayer.
The social contract between the state and Britain is "broken", Mr Jenrick declared, as he criticised the Conservative Party for being "too afraid to make cuts".
Reform UK's Stance on Welfare Spending
Richard Tice has said Britain's benefits bill is "going through the roof" as welfare is "wasted" on individuals who are fit to work. He said Reform UK was focused on "fairness" when reassessing the welfare system, vowing that the party in Government would "go the extra mile" to support the mission.
These proposals are part of Reform UK's broader strategy to overhaul the welfare system, aiming to reduce spending and target support more effectively. The party argues that the current system is unsustainable and that these changes are necessary to prevent a national debt crisis.
