Work and Pensions Secretary Damian Green has said it was pointless to re-test recipients of the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) benefit wage if their illness was such that they had no prospect of recovering.
Thousands of people suffering from long-term sickness claiming ESA will no longer have to undertake regular medical assessments to keep receiving their payments.
Currently, more than two million people receive ESA, which is worth up to £109 per week.