Welfare changes come into force

The government’s employment and support allowance (ESA), which will replace incapacity benefit for sick and disabled people, comes into force today.

The new benefit, a cornerstone of the government’s welfare reform programme, was set up with the aim of emphasising what an unemployed person can do rather than what they can’t.
 

It’s untenable to have a normal retirement age in public-sector schemes that is significantly different from the state retirement age

Brian Bailey, Director of pensions, West Midlands Pension Fund and member of High Pay Commission