Rachel Reeves to unveil MORE benefit cuts in Spring Statement today

RACHEL Reeves is expected to unveil more benefit cuts in the Spring Statement today.

It comes just days after the Chancellor unveiled a sweeping package of cuts to the UK's welfare system.

The measures, which include plans to restrict eligibility for Personal Independent Payments (PIP), were expected to save the government £5billion.

However, an assessment carried out by the Office for Budget Responsibility has said the proposed cuts will only save around £3.4billion.

That is according to a report in The Times, which said the Chancellor is expected to announce another £500million worth of welfare cuts to help balance the books.

The new package will see incapacity benefits for new claimants frozen until 2030 rather than increased inline with inflation.

It comes after the government proposed last week that new claimants would see their money fall from £97 per week to £50.

While existing claimants will see the top-up frozen at £97 a week until 2030, which is a year-on-year real-terms cut.

The benefit provides support for those who are unable to work due to an illness or disability.

Elsewhere, the outlet said there will be cut to the basic rate of Universal Credit in 2029, after an earlier increase on £7.

Reeves is expected to raise about £500million by 2030 from these cuts.

These measures join a number of other cuts to the UK's welfare system.

Last week, the government also proposed merging jobseekers' allowance and employment support allowance, where people who have worked get more than those who have not.

Meanwhile a new eligibility criterion will be introduced for the daily living component of PIP.

To receive the £105 per week support, Claimants must achieve a minimum score of four points in at least one of the daily living activities evaluated during the assessment to be eligible.

Currently, it is possible to qualify for the daily living component with a lower overall score spread across multiple activities.

This change means individuals with lower needs in daily living activities could no longer be eligible for the aid.

The government said that this change will impact some current claimants and is considering how to best support them, including options for transitional protection.

They are also consulting on further support measures and a review of the PIP assessment process.

Flying Eze has approached the Treasury for comment.

WHAT OTHER CHANGES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED?

The move comes as part of a huge package of cuts to the UK's benefit system as the Treasury looks for ways to plug a hole in public finances.

The key changes include:

• Merging jobseekers’ allowance and employment support allowance, where people who have worked get more than those who have not
• Scrapping the Work Capability Assessment by 2028, with all health payments made via PIP in future
• Under-22s to be banned entirely from claiming Universal Credit incapacity benefits
• An above-inflation rise to the standard allowance ofUniversal Credit, but the highest incapacity payment cut
• A much higher bar for people to claim Personal Independence Payments to save £5billion a year
• A “right to try”; scheme that allows jobless Brits to have a go at working without losing their benefits if they cannot manage

Read our article to find out exactly what the changes could mean for you.