Labour's plans for DWP universal credit, Work Capability Assessment and tackling 'moral scar on our society'

Ahead of the general election, Labour set out several policies that affect the benefits system.

The party is now in power after winning a landslide victory last week. The new Prime Minister Keir Starmer has promised to 'hit the ground running', telling his top team this weekend that there is a "huge amount of work to do" that they would start straight away.

In its manifesto, Labour said it will review Universal Credit, reform disability benefit assessments and change the way Jobcentres work. The party also said it wants to end 'mass dependence' on emergency food parcels which it describes as a 'moral scar on our society'.

READ MORE: What Greater Manchester wants from the new Labour government

Labour's manifesto says that there are 'too many people' out of work or not earning enough and promises to 'make work pay'. To address this, and to tackle poverty, the manifesto commits to reviewing Universal Credit - but it does specify how it would change.

Setting out the party's plans to reform employment support, the manifesto says: "Our system will be underpinned by rights and responsibilities – people who can work, should work – and there will be consequences for those who do not fulfil their obligations."

Labour says that the Work Capability Assessment - used to decide if someone with a health condition or disability is entitled to benefits - needs to be 'reformed or replaced'. It also commits to putting a 'proper plan' to support disabled people to work in place.

The party has said its reforms to employment support will aim to 'drive growth and opportunity'. It plans to bring Jobcentre Plus and the National Careers Service together with a new approach focused on 'getting people into work and helping them get on at work'.

A