Story perspectives

UK scraps disability cash and cuts Universal Credit health element

8/16/2026

Summary

Story summary

UK Treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick announced scrapping Personal Independence Payments and the health element of Universal Credit, £50 billion savings.
The scheme would replace disability cash with council-run support accounts and require employers to buy “return-to-work cover” insurance for two years after sickness.
Jenrick projected 2.16 million would keep full cash entitlements while 2.89 million would lose them, and Labour called the £50 billion claim “fantasy economics” that would shift costs to employers.

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Story summary

UK Treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick announced scrapping Personal Independence Payments and the health element of Universal Credit, £50 billion savings.
The scheme would replace disability cash with council-run support accounts and require employers to buy “return-to-work cover” insurance for two years after sickness.
Jenrick projected 2.16 million would keep full cash entitlements while 2.89 million would lose them, and Labour called the £50 billion claim “fantasy economics” that would shift costs to employers.