51�Թ�

This includes halving incapacity benefits for new claimants, and tighter criteria around the Personal Independence Payment for those with long term physical or mental health conditions.

Elspeth receives a total of about £1,200 a month through a student maintenance loan and incapacity and disability benefits.

Experts say the increase is due a combination of worse mental health since the pandemic and a higher retirement age meaning some are instead claiming incapacity benefits.

The work capability assessment that determines who is eligible for incapacity benefits will be scrapped in 2028, under the proposals.

One used to be known as incapacity benefit.