A new online petition is urging the UK Government to scrap cash payments for benefit claimants
A new online petition is calling on the UK Government to “ensure that welfare money is being spent on essentials to help those in need”. The proposal suggests ditching cash payments for benefit claimants and introducing an alternative form of support.
The brainchild of Dewald Meiring, the petition proposes a ‘payment card’ system that can “only be used for things like food, clothes, school supplies etc”. He added: “We are concerned that the taxpayer could be funding non-essential items for those who rely on the state for support.”
The ‘Introduce a benefits payment card that can be used for essentials only’ petition has been launched on the Petitions Parliament website. If it garners 10,000 signatures, it will warrant a written response from the UK Government, and at 100,000 signatures, it could be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament.
In the financial year of 2025/26, the UK Government is projected to spend £323.1 billion on the social security system in Great Britain. Total welfare spending is expected to account for 10.6 per cent of GDP and 23.6 per cent of the total government expenditure in 2025 to 2026.
Approximately 55 per cent of social security expenditure is allocated to pensioners; in 2025 to 2026, the government will spend £177.8 billion on benefits for pensioners in Great Britain. This includes the State Pension, which is forecasted to cost £146.1 billion in 2025/26, reports the Daily Record.
The Labour Government has earmarked a hefty £145.3 billion for working age and child welfare, which encompasses spending on Universal Credit, its predecessors, and non-DWP welfare expenditure. In the current fiscal year, it’s also set to spend £76.9 billion on benefits for disabled people and those with health conditions, along with £37.8 billion on housing benefits.
Nearly 24 million people across Great Britain are in receipt of at least one benefit. This includes:
- 8.3 million people on Universal Credit
- 13 million older people in receipt of the State Pension – classed as a contributory benefit
- 3.9 million people on Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
During their tenure, the Conservatives faced significant backlash from charities, campaigners, and opposition parties over their proposal to replace PIP cash payments – which can amount to as much as £749.80 each month – with vouchers.
The Labour Government is presently reviewing PIP eligibility and has assured that it won’t be swapping out cash payments for vouchers, making a shift to a ‘payment card’ highly unlikely.
Universal Credit, a means-tested benefit designed to assist low-income workers and those out of work with daily living expenses, would pose its own challenges if limited to a ‘payment card’, given the diverse needs of recipients.
The State Pension is a contributory benefit, with the amount received determined by a person’s National Insurance Contributions made throughout their working life. The idea of a payment card for pensioners seems impractical as their daily needs may differ from those of working age, and it’s important to remember that they have been taxpayers in the past, supporting themselves in retirement.
PIP, or Personal Independence Payment, is a tax-free, non-means-tested benefit designed for people with a disability, long-term illness or physical or mental health condition. This disability benefit can assist people with additional daily costs and/or mobility needs. You can view the petition online here.
