The Liberal Democrat Party manifesto pledges to “repair the broken benefits safety net” by reducing the five-week waiting time for a first Universal Credit payment to just five days and reform the Carer’s Allowance benefit. The Party also proposes scrapping the bedroom tax and replacing the current sanctions regime with an incentive-based scheme to help people into work.
Disability benefits would also be reshaped under a Lib Dem government by bringing Work Capability Assessments in-house and reforming Personal Independence Payment assessments to make the process “more transparent” in order to “stop unnecessary reassessments” and end the use of informal assessments. It is currently only open to new claimants living in the pilot areas of Dundee City, Na h-Eileanan Siar and Perth and Kinross, however, it is due to rollout in North and South Lanarkshire and Angus on Monday, June 24.
It’s important to be aware the DWP will continue to pay Carer’s Allowance until the move to Carer Support Payment is completed. The main group to benefit will be carers aged 16-19 in full-time “advanced” education , and carers aged over 20 in full-time education at any level. Sign up to our Record Money newsletter and get the top stories sent to your inbox daily from Monday to Friday, including a special cost of living edition on a Thursday - sign up here.NEW - Get our money news alerts on your phone by joining our Daily Record Money WhatsApp community.