As the day of reckoning draws nearer – when the Chancellor Rachel Reeves announces welfare cuts – ITV News Deputy Political Editor Anushka Asthana has found out that the Government is considering how to protect the most disabled.
Conversations are taking place as officials brace themselves for a potential rebellion over welfare cuts that will be laid out next week, including big reductions to the rate of sickness benefits.
The plans – revealed exclusively by ITV News last week – will see the basic rate of Universal Credit (UC) raised to try to incentivise people to stay in the work-search group.
But the highest level of UC – for the most disabled or ill who have been judged unable to work – will go down.
At the moment you get more than £400 extra if you are judged too ill to work; that gap will be reduced.
The measures are due to be "scored" on Rachel Reeves spring budget.
But sources say they are likely to also consult on measures to protect at least a small group who are considered to be the most disabled.
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