Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working

The UK Government has unveiled its long-awaited proposals to cut disability welfare spending, which is forecast to reach £75.7 billion by 2030, up from £48.5 billion in 2023. The proposals aim to reduce this sharp rise by £5 billion.

Cut Out

The government plans to tighten the criteria for the daily living component of Personal Independence Payments, which focuses on activities like washing and dressing independently. From November 2026, it will be harder to qualify for financial assistance based on these activities as the scoring system used to determine eligibility will become more stringent.

Targeting The Vulnerable

The reforms also include plans to freeze the health or disability components of Universal Credit until 2029/30 and virtually halve them for new claimants. Those with potentially serious and life-limiting disabilities who are under 22 will no longer receive any top-up payments related to ill health but will instead be more vigorously directed towards employment support and training opportunities.

Reform Proposals

Additionally, the government plans to:

• Abolish the separate Work Capability Assessment by 2028 and merge it into the assessment for Personal Independence Payments, creating a single, streamlined, and holistic health assessment based on activities of daily life.
• Roll out a "right to try" scheme, allowing benefit claimants to try out employment without fear of having to reapply for benefits if things don’t work out.

Disability Community’s Reaction

The Disability Benefits Consortium, a coalition of over 100 charities, has labelled the cuts as "immoral" and "devastating." James Taylor, Executive Director of Strategy at disability equality charity Scope, said, "The biggest cuts to disability benefits on record should shame the government to its core. They are choosing to penalize some of the poorest people in our society. Almost half of families in poverty include someone who is disabled."

Conclusion

The government’s proposals have been met with a strong outcry from disability charities and representative groups, who argue that the cuts are "immoral" and "devastating." While the government claims that the reforms are designed to support people with disabilities into work, many are concerned that the cuts will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable members of society.

FAQs

• What is the proposed change to Personal Independence Payments?
  • The government plans to tighten the criteria for the daily living component of Personal Independence Payments, making it harder to qualify for financial assistance.
• What is the plan for Universal Credit?
  • The government plans to freeze the health or disability components of Universal Credit until 2029/30 and virtually halve them for new claimants.
• What is the "right to try" scheme?
  • The scheme allows benefit claimants to try out employment without fear of having to reapply for benefits if things don’t work out.
• What is the reaction of disability charities?
  • The Disability Benefits Consortium has labelled the cuts as "immoral" and "devastating," with many charities expressing concern that the reforms will disproportionately affect the most vulnerable members of society.

Despite growing awareness of the lack of gender equality in STEM, a new study suggests that parents engage more frequently in math activities with young boys than girls—even though the parents think math is equally important for girls.

The Study’s Findings

Published in Developmental Psychology, the study surveyed 929 parents of children aged one to six, asking them about the frequency of math-related activities they do with their kids and their perceptions of math’s importance for their children. Interestingly, while parents expressed gender-equal attitudes toward the importance of math for their sons and daughters, their reported actions at home told a different story.

Boys Receive More Math-Based Activities

The study found that parents completed more math-based activities with their sons. More specifically, parents were significantly more likely to engage in number-based activities like counting and identifying numbers with six-year-old boys than girls. Similarly, five- and six-year-old boys received more hands-on experiences with measurement, such as using rulers or measuring ingredients. However, when it came to spatial-geometric play, like building with LEGOs, no gender differences were observed.

The Impact on Gender Disparities

These findings matter because gender disparities in math persist well beyond childhood. For example, boys continue to outperform girls on the math portion of the SAT exam. Data from 2023 shows that for every 100 girls who scored between 680 and 800 in the math section, there were 156 boys. This gap influences college admissions and has long-term consequences for career trajectories.

The Role of Gender in STEM Careers

Gender differences emerge in high-paying, math-intensive careers. For example, women earn less than a third of engineering degrees, and according to a 2024 report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 17.2% of architecture and engineering jobs are held by women. The representation of women mathematicians is so low that the same report states the data is insufficient to calculate a meaningful percentage.

Nature versus Nurture: The Debate Continues

A lengthy debate has ensued about whether these math differences stem from nature or nurture. That is, whether boys are born with more skill, aptitude, or interest in math-related subjects (nature) or if boys develop these skills and interests because they are treated differently than girls throughout their lives (nurture).

The Study’s Contribution to the Debate

The current study provides evidence that girls and boys receive differential treatment at home, which could lead to differences in math interest and ability. Previous research studies have found that teachers have gendered expectations about who will excel in math, which may lead them to treat boys differently as well.

Conclusion

By the time children reach five or six, they are already navigating school environments shaped by teachers, peer dynamics, and gendered social norms. At this point, it becomes nearly impossible to separate innate interests from those which develop from their interactions. While the study doesn’t settle the long-standing nature versus nurture debate, it highlights a critical reality: parents are engaging with their sons and daughters differently when it comes to math. If parents truly believe that math is just as important for their daughters as it is for their sons, as indicated by the results of this study, they must ensure their daughters receive equal time and opportunities to develop these skills.

FAQs

• • What is the study’s main finding?

The study found that parents complete more math-based activities with their sons than daughters.

• • What are the long-term consequences of gender disparities in math?

Gender disparities in math lead to differences in college admissions and have long-term consequences for career trajectories.

• • What is the nature versus nurture debate?

The debate is about whether math differences stem from innate ability or if they develop from the way children are treated differently throughout their lives.

• • What is the study’s contribution to the debate?

The study provides evidence that girls and boys receive differential treatment at home, which could lead to differences in math interest and ability.

What Exactly Constitutes American History?

It’s a simple question that seems to continually get harder to answer.

Arlington National Cemetery’s Erasure of History

As part of the revisited DEI directive brought on by the White House, Arlington National Cemetery’s website scrubbed various pages, lists, and maps on grave sites that highlighted the specific efforts of African American, Hispanic American, and women service members who are buried on the grounds.

Arlington calls them modules—featured stories for visitors, families, researchers, and educators that help guide walking tours and learning opportunities.

The affected pages were “unpublished,” but it’s unclear if or when the pages will be republished.

The Military Is Diverse By Design

When it comes to cultural diversity at scale, the American military may be the most diverse organization in the United States. Of the just over two million Americans serving, 17% of the force is Black, 17% is Hispanic/Latino, and nearly one-fifth is women, a number that has increased as more military specialties have become fully integrated by gender.

That is today’s reality.

Where Do We Go From Here?

As the narrative around DEI becomes more a part of the cultural zeitgeist, an interesting question is being raised: Will Black history and Hispanic history continue to be classified under DEI and thus need to be removed, to align with the “mandates, policies, programs, preferences and activities in the federal government”? Or is it time we communicate that we’re integrating all history into American history?

Morgan Freeman’s Commentary

Morgan Freeman famously said in reference to Black History Month, “I detest it, the mere idea of it. You are going to give me the shortest month in a year? And you are going to celebrate ‘my’ history?! This whole idea makes my teeth itch. It’s not right.”

A Call to Action

At what point does America define Americans without the need for dual terms such as “Hispanic American” and “African American”? I think it’s important to continue honoring these veterans by sharing their stories and what they believed.

At this moment, perhaps more than ever, we should collectively refer to trailblazing Americans as simply Americans, and honor them by highlighting their achievements. Instead of scrubbing ethnicity out of it, let’s put into action the vision of what a fully integrated America can be for those still living—and for all the veterans who came before us.

Conclusion

It’s time we stop erasing history and instead, integrate it into the fabric of American culture. By doing so, we can create a more inclusive and accurate representation of our nation’s past and present.

FAQs

Q: What is DEI?

A: DEI stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. It refers to the efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in various aspects of society, including education, employment, and government.

Q: Why is DEI important?

A: DEI is important because it helps to promote a more inclusive and equitable society, where everyone has the opportunity to succeed and reach their full potential.

Q: What is the impact of DEI on American history?

A: The impact of DEI on American history is that it can erase or downplay the contributions and achievements of certain groups, such as African Americans and Hispanic Americans, in favor of a more homogenous narrative.