New proposals have been drawn up by ministers for the near future which would affect benefits for hundreds of thousands of people.

The changes would save £4bn from the welfare budget but would also see many more people forced to find work despite suffering from a range of physical and mental health conditions.

This news follows an announcement back in March that the Government wanted to scrap the controversial Work Capability Assessment.

It is used to determine if people can receive additional benefits payments due to a health condition.

Bournemouth Echo: People could be expected to look for work even if suffering from a range of physical and mental health conditionsPeople could be expected to look for work even if suffering from a range of physical and mental health conditions (Image: PA)

Eligible claimants currently receive £390 a month on top of their universal credit payment.

BBC News reports: "If the proposals are enacted, people who, for instance, are in severe pain while awaiting an operation or have some mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety, may not receive the additional payment but would be expected to look for work."

Benefit changes are set to be 'gradual'

The Department for Work and Pensions said reforms to welfare would be gradual.

Initially, the changes would only affect new claimants, BBC News reports, with existing recipients eventually being brought into the new system by the end of the decade.

However, they would be given transitional protection if their benefits were to be cut.

Mel Stride, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, has spoken recently of his desire to get more people off benefits and into work.

Speaking in the Commons in September, Mr Stride said more than 2.5 million people were on benefits and inactive due to a long-term health condition.

Bournemouth Echo: If the proposals come into place the categories of people currently deemed unfit to work would be scrappedIf the proposals come into place the categories of people currently deemed unfit to work would be scrapped (Image: PA)

Those who currently receive the additional money are placed in one of two categories of people deemed unfit to work:

  • either having "limited capability for work-related activity" if they receive universal credit
  • or in the support group if they receive employment and support allowance

The new proposals would see these categories scrapped as the additional benefit would not be paid.

Additionally, work coaches in Job Centres would determine how much effort a person had to make to find a job.

Those considered not to be trying hard enough could be threatened with having their benefits sanctioned.

There would be some exceptions, such as for people being treated for cancer and those with a terminal illness.

In response to the BBC's reporting the Department for Work and Pensions said: "The structural reforms set out in the Health and Disability White Paper, which will improve the experience of the benefits system for disabled people, will be rolled out gradually from 2026 and transitional protection will ensure nobody experiences a financial loss as a result of moving onto the new system."