Spring statement LIVE: Rachel Reeves to deliver key speech after OBR warning

Charities and health experts have warned welfare cuts could risk lives, as the government prepared to publish an official impact assessment into how many people will be affected by its plans.

Prime minister Keir Starmer has described the current welfare system as “morally indefensible”, insisting Labour’s reforms will help those who can work to get jobs.

It is now expected further cuts to welfare will be announced as chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers her spring statement on Wednesday, after the budget watchdog said the government’s plans will not save as much as ministers hoped. A tightening of eligibility for the main disability benefit, known as the personal independence payment (Pip), and cuts to the health element of universal credit (UC) have prompted stark warnings and calls for a rethink.

Read more: The key PIP changes and what they mean for your benefit payments

Changes to Pip are expected to account for the largest proportion of savings, with the Resolution Foundation think tank estimating this could see between 800,000 and 1.2 million people in England and Wales losing support of between £4,200 and £6,300 per year by the end of the decade.

An official impact assessment is expected to be published on Wednesday into the previously-announced changes.

Charities have reported a surge in calls and visits to their advice pages following last week’s announcement, which came after lengthy speculation about what might be in store.

Mental health charity Mind said its helpline advisers had reported that some people had indicated their level of worry was such that they felt they had “no choice but to end their own life”.

The charity’s welfare advice line saw calls double from 90 the previous week to 182 last week, while other information and support lines received more than 2,540 calls, which was a 10% rise on the previous week.

Disability charity Scope said calls to its helpline on the day of the announcement had more than doubled to 344 from 118 the week earlier, while its online community saw 20,000 interactions on the day compared to 15,000 seven days before.

Citizens Advice saw views of its Pip advice pages rise to almost 80,000 views last week, which was a 44% rise from the week before.

Scope said people feel “abandoned by the government”.