By Charlotte Fisher
The number of people eligible for the higher rate of DWP universal credit payments could be widened after calls from MPs to expand the new criteria for the benefit. Ministers are facing calls from Labour backbenchers to widen access to their proposed top tier of sickness benefits. Graeme Downie has proposed a welfare reform Bill amendment, so universal credit claimants with Parkinson鈥檚 or multiple sclerosis who cannot work do not have to face repeated medical assessments to receive a payout. If MPs back Downie’s amendment, patients with 鈥渆volving鈥 needs who cannot work could also qualify for a higher rate of benefits. It comes after the Government passed its controversial welfare bill – which looks to save on Government spending by reducing its welfare costs – on July 1, meaning a new ‘two-tier’ system of welfare will be introduced. The DWP boss said this will effectively create an 鈥榦ld鈥 and 鈥榥ew鈥 PIP system – pre-November 2026 and post-November 2026 – that will work in tandem to provide support for people with a disability, long-term illness or physical or mental health condition. Never miss a story with the MEN’s daily Catch Up newsletter – get it in your inbox by signing up here She explained that it is “very common throughout the benefits system to have existing claimants protected on old rules and old rates. That is what we are doing today”. The Government鈥檚 Bill has already cleared its first Commons hurdle at second reading, after work and pensions minister Sir Stephen Timms vowed not to restrict eligibility for the Personal Independence Payment, with any changes coming in only after a review of the benefit. To meet his promise, ministers have had to table amendments to their own draft new law, to remove one of its seven clauses, which MPs will debate next Wednesday. Universal credit claimants with Parkinson鈥檚 鈥渁re already possibly struggling financially鈥, Mr Downie told the PA news agency ahead of the debate. He added: 鈥淭he cost of living with a condition like Parkinson鈥檚 can be very high. You may well require or need additional support.鈥 The Dunfermline and Dollar MP said patients who struggle with their motor control might buy pre-chopped vegetables or chicken. 鈥淭hose things are expensive, so if you鈥檙e already on universal credit and you鈥檙e struggling, being able to do that significantly impacts your health, it significantly impacts your ability to live properly,鈥 he continued. As part of the Government鈥檚 reforms, the Department for Work and Pensions has proposed a new 鈥渟evere conditions criteria鈥 for universal credit. Claimants in this category will be entitled to a higher rate of the benefit, and will not be routinely reassessed to receive money. To qualify, claimants must have limited capability for work or work-related activity (LCWRA) and symptoms which 鈥渃onstantly鈥 apply. Mr Downie鈥檚 amendment would expand these criteria to claimants with 鈥渁 fluctuating condition鈥. It would cover 鈥渃onditions like Parkinson鈥檚 but also multiple sclerosis, ME (myalgic encephalomyelitis), long Covid and a whole range of other conditions where, you know, in the morning things could be really good and in the afternoon things could be really bad, and even hour by hour things could change鈥, he said. 鈥淚 felt it was necessary to table an amendment to really probe what the Government鈥檚 position is on this, and ensuring that people with Parkinson鈥檚 and conditions like that are not excluded from even applying and being considered.鈥 Join the Manchester Evening News WhatsApp group HERE Mr Downie鈥檚 proposal has backing from 23 cross-party MPs. Juliet Tizzard, external relations director at Parkinson鈥檚 UK, said: 鈥淐riteria in the Bill say that a new claimant for the universal credit health payment will have to be 鈥榗onstantly鈥 unable to perform certain activities to qualify. 鈥淭his doesn鈥檛 work for people with Parkinson鈥檚, whose symptoms change throughout the day. 鈥淧eople with Parkinson鈥檚 and other fluctuating conditions like multiple sclerosis will be effectively excluded from getting all the financial support they need. 鈥淭he Government has responded to our call and withdrawn the damaging restrictions to Pip. 鈥淣ow, they must do the same with the universal credit health element. The health of many people with Parkinson鈥檚 is in their hands.鈥