# Healey insists welfare bill will come down under Labour but warns: ‘We never set a timetable for savings’

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/healey-insists-welfare-bill-will-come-down-under-labour-but-warns-we-never-set-a-timetable-for-savings/
- Published: 2026-11-01T12:08:54+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-01T13:48:21+00:00
- Original publisher: The Independent (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/john-healey-welfare-bill-chancellor-labour-benefits-b3077072.html
- Topics: Business, Markets, Politics

## Key points

- Healey says Labour will reduce the overall welfare bill.
- He says no timetable for savings has been set.
- The OBR forecasts health-related benefits at £105bn in 2028-29.

## Summary

John Healey said the overall welfare bill would fall under Labour, while rejecting reports that he had promised it would start falling before the next general election. His remarks followed confusion over the timing of savings after the Government delayed major welfare changes until 2027.

Healey said changes would begin next year, but the timetable for savings had not been set. The Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts health-related benefits, including sickness benefits and Personal Independence Payments, will cost £105 billion in 2028-29; it has also warned the wider sickness and disability bill could reach £100 billion a year before the decade ends. Labour says it will consider reviews of disability benefits and youth unemployment before setting out legislation.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.