The Work Capability Assessment (WCA) for benefits will be thrown out as part of the government's "biggest" welfare shake-up in a decade, Lancs Live reports. Rather than undergoing the WCA, people will be assessed and asked about what work they believe they could do.
The government said that the 'only' health and disability assessment will be the Personal Independent Payment (PIP) assessment, meaning that those claiming both PIP and Universal Credit will be affected. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt says that this allows more disabled people to have no fear of losing their benefits as they try to work.
The Mirror reports the Mr Hunt also announced in his spring Budget that he was to replace the Limited Capability for Work (LCW). The measures are part of the chancellor's plan to get people 'back to work'.
Another change includes the Universal Credit Limited Capability for Work and Work Relative Activity (LCWRA) groups being replaced instead. Anyone placed in the LCW workgroup is believed to be able to prepare for work, with support, in future by the DWP.
If you are placed in the LCWRA group the DWP does not believe you can work, so you won't have to work or do anything to get ready for work. The new "Universal Credit Health Element" will replace it. Anyone placed in the LCWRA group will receive an extra £354.28 each month.
The Government says the award rate will remain the same and no one will experience "financial loss" at the point when it it introduced. It adds that it will "take time" to bring in these changes so will not be introduced soon.
However the timeframe for the plans are not clear as the Budget paper says it aims to "take the primary legislation in a new Parliament". The Chancellor has described this move as being the "biggest reform to the welfare system in a decade".
